PADI OPen WAter FInAl exAm A ActuAl exAm 2026/2027 –
cOmPlete exAm-Style QueStIOnS WIth DetAIleD rAtIOnAleS |
100% VerIFIeD | PASS GuArAnteeD – A+ GrADeD
Section 1: Diving Physics & Physiology (Questions 1-12)
**Q1.** If a balloon is filled with air at the surface (1 bar/atm) and taken down to a depth
of 33 feet (10 meters) in saltwater, what happens to the volume of the air inside the
balloon?
A. The volume stays the same because pressure does not affect air.
B. The volume doubles because the pressure decreases.
C. **The volume is reduced to one-half of its original volume because the pressure
doubles.**
D. The volume is reduced to one-third of its original volume because the pressure
triples.
**Correct Answer: C**
**Rationale:** According to Boyle's Law, pressure and volume are inversely
proportional. At 33 feet of saltwater, the ambient pressure is 2 ATA (1 atmosphere of air
+ 1 atmosphere of water). Since the pressure has doubled (1 ATA to 2 ATA), the volume
of gas must be reduced by half. Options A and B contradict Boyle's Law, and option D
incorrectly calculates the pressure change, which would require a depth of 66 feet to
reach 3 ATA.
---
, **Q2.** What is the primary reason you should never hold your breath while scuba
diving?
A. **It causes your lungs to overexpand with air, potentially leading to lung over-
expansion injury.**
B. It increases your heart rate and causes you to consume air faster.
C. It prevents you from equalizing your ears effectively.
D. It causes nitrogen to build up in your bloodstream faster than normal.
**Correct Answer: A**
**Rationale:** Holding your breath while ascending can cause a lung over-expansion
injury (pulmonary barotrauma) as the air in your lungs expands due to decreasing
ambient pressure. This can lead to arterial gas embolism (AGE), pneumothorax, or
mediastinal emphysema. Options B, C, and D are not the primary reason.
---
**Q3.** As a diver descends, the increasing ambient pressure causes the air in the
body's air spaces to:
A. Expand
B. **Contract (decrease in volume)**
C. Remain the same
D. Evaporate
**Correct Answer: B**
cOmPlete exAm-Style QueStIOnS WIth DetAIleD rAtIOnAleS |
100% VerIFIeD | PASS GuArAnteeD – A+ GrADeD
Section 1: Diving Physics & Physiology (Questions 1-12)
**Q1.** If a balloon is filled with air at the surface (1 bar/atm) and taken down to a depth
of 33 feet (10 meters) in saltwater, what happens to the volume of the air inside the
balloon?
A. The volume stays the same because pressure does not affect air.
B. The volume doubles because the pressure decreases.
C. **The volume is reduced to one-half of its original volume because the pressure
doubles.**
D. The volume is reduced to one-third of its original volume because the pressure
triples.
**Correct Answer: C**
**Rationale:** According to Boyle's Law, pressure and volume are inversely
proportional. At 33 feet of saltwater, the ambient pressure is 2 ATA (1 atmosphere of air
+ 1 atmosphere of water). Since the pressure has doubled (1 ATA to 2 ATA), the volume
of gas must be reduced by half. Options A and B contradict Boyle's Law, and option D
incorrectly calculates the pressure change, which would require a depth of 66 feet to
reach 3 ATA.
---
, **Q2.** What is the primary reason you should never hold your breath while scuba
diving?
A. **It causes your lungs to overexpand with air, potentially leading to lung over-
expansion injury.**
B. It increases your heart rate and causes you to consume air faster.
C. It prevents you from equalizing your ears effectively.
D. It causes nitrogen to build up in your bloodstream faster than normal.
**Correct Answer: A**
**Rationale:** Holding your breath while ascending can cause a lung over-expansion
injury (pulmonary barotrauma) as the air in your lungs expands due to decreasing
ambient pressure. This can lead to arterial gas embolism (AGE), pneumothorax, or
mediastinal emphysema. Options B, C, and D are not the primary reason.
---
**Q3.** As a diver descends, the increasing ambient pressure causes the air in the
body's air spaces to:
A. Expand
B. **Contract (decrease in volume)**
C. Remain the same
D. Evaporate
**Correct Answer: B**
