PADI Open Water Exam Study Guide Questions And
Correct Answers (Verified Answers) 2026/2027
When is an object positively buoyant? - CORRECT ANSWER -When it
displaces a volume of water weighing more than its own weight.
When is an object negatively buoyant? - CORRECT ANSWER -When it
displaces a volume of water weighing less than its own weight.
When is an object neutrally buoyant? - CORRECT ANSWER -When it
displaces a volume of water weighing the same as its own weight.
Why two pieces of equipment do you use to control your buoyancy? -
CORRECT ANSWER -BCD, Lead weight
What does buoyancy help with when you are underwater? - CORRECT
ANSWER -Controlling where you are
What does buoyancy help with when you are at the surface? - CORRECT
ANSWER -Floatation, conserving energy
How does the buoyancy of an object differ in fresh/salt water? - CORRECT
ANSWER -More buoyant in salt than fresh
When you exhale what happens? - CORRECT ANSWER -Lung volume
decreases so you have less buoyancy.
,When you inhale what happens? - CORRECT ANSWER -Lung volume
increases so you have more buoyancy.
Why don't you feel air pressure? - CORRECT ANSWER -Your body is
primarily liquid, which is incompressible and distribute pressure equally
throughout your whole body.
Where are some air spaces located in the body? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Ears, sinuses, lungs
Do you always feel the pressure in body air spaces? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Only if the pressure is different inside and outside the air spaces.
1 bar is what depth? - CORRECT ANSWER -0m/0ft
2 bar is what depth? - CORRECT ANSWER -33ft/10m
3 bar is what depth? - CORRECT ANSWER -66ft/20m
4 bar is what depth? - CORRECT ANSWER -99ft/30m
How is air volume affected when depth is increased? - CORRECT ANSWER
-It decreases
, How is air density affected when depth is increased? - CORRECT ANSWER
-It increases
What happens if you take an air volume underwater with you in a flexible
container or inverted jar? - CORRECT ANSWER -As pressure increases the
volume decreases, same air but smaller space.
How do you maintain air volume as you descend? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Equalize
What is a "squeeze"? - CORRECT ANSWER -As volume decreases, pressure
pushes body tissues inwards toward air space, causing discomfort. Pressure
outside air space is more than pressure inside air space.
Where can you get a squeeze? - CORRECT ANSWER -Ears, sinuses, mask,
lungs, teeth
How do you equalise air spaces in ears? - CORRECT ANSWER -Blow and
squeeze nose, wiggle jaw, swallowing
How often should you equalise? - CORRECT ANSWER -Every metre before
discomfort
What do you do if you feel discomfort? - CORRECT ANSWER -Ascend
until discomfort eases, equalise, continue descent slowly
Correct Answers (Verified Answers) 2026/2027
When is an object positively buoyant? - CORRECT ANSWER -When it
displaces a volume of water weighing more than its own weight.
When is an object negatively buoyant? - CORRECT ANSWER -When it
displaces a volume of water weighing less than its own weight.
When is an object neutrally buoyant? - CORRECT ANSWER -When it
displaces a volume of water weighing the same as its own weight.
Why two pieces of equipment do you use to control your buoyancy? -
CORRECT ANSWER -BCD, Lead weight
What does buoyancy help with when you are underwater? - CORRECT
ANSWER -Controlling where you are
What does buoyancy help with when you are at the surface? - CORRECT
ANSWER -Floatation, conserving energy
How does the buoyancy of an object differ in fresh/salt water? - CORRECT
ANSWER -More buoyant in salt than fresh
When you exhale what happens? - CORRECT ANSWER -Lung volume
decreases so you have less buoyancy.
,When you inhale what happens? - CORRECT ANSWER -Lung volume
increases so you have more buoyancy.
Why don't you feel air pressure? - CORRECT ANSWER -Your body is
primarily liquid, which is incompressible and distribute pressure equally
throughout your whole body.
Where are some air spaces located in the body? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Ears, sinuses, lungs
Do you always feel the pressure in body air spaces? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Only if the pressure is different inside and outside the air spaces.
1 bar is what depth? - CORRECT ANSWER -0m/0ft
2 bar is what depth? - CORRECT ANSWER -33ft/10m
3 bar is what depth? - CORRECT ANSWER -66ft/20m
4 bar is what depth? - CORRECT ANSWER -99ft/30m
How is air volume affected when depth is increased? - CORRECT ANSWER
-It decreases
, How is air density affected when depth is increased? - CORRECT ANSWER
-It increases
What happens if you take an air volume underwater with you in a flexible
container or inverted jar? - CORRECT ANSWER -As pressure increases the
volume decreases, same air but smaller space.
How do you maintain air volume as you descend? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Equalize
What is a "squeeze"? - CORRECT ANSWER -As volume decreases, pressure
pushes body tissues inwards toward air space, causing discomfort. Pressure
outside air space is more than pressure inside air space.
Where can you get a squeeze? - CORRECT ANSWER -Ears, sinuses, mask,
lungs, teeth
How do you equalise air spaces in ears? - CORRECT ANSWER -Blow and
squeeze nose, wiggle jaw, swallowing
How often should you equalise? - CORRECT ANSWER -Every metre before
discomfort
What do you do if you feel discomfort? - CORRECT ANSWER -Ascend
until discomfort eases, equalise, continue descent slowly
