This is a glossary of technical terms, jargon, diver slang and acronyms used in underwater diving. The definitions listed are in the context of underwater diving. There may be other meanings in other contexts.
Underwater diving can be described as a human activity – intentional, purposive, conscious and subjectively meaningful sequence of actions. Underwater diving is practiced as part of an occupation, or for recreation, where the practitioner submerges below the surface of the water or other liquid for a period which may range between seconds to the order of a day at a time, either exposed to the ambient pressure or isolated by a pressure resistant suit, to interact with the underwater environment for pleasure, competitive sport, or as a means to reach a work site for profit, as a public service, or in the pursuit of knowledge, and may use no equipment at all, or a wide range of equipment which may include breathing apparatus, environmental protective clothing, aids to vision, communication, propulsion, maneuverability, buoyancy and safety equipment, and tools for the task at hand.
Many of the terms are in general use by English speaking divers from many parts of the world, both amateur and professional, and using any of the modes of diving. Others are more specialised, variable by location, mode, or professional environment. There are instances where a term may have more than one meaning depending on context, and others where several terms refer to the same concept, or there are variations in spelling. A few are loan-words from other languages.
There are five sub-glossaries, listed here. The tables of content should link between them automatically:
- Glossary of underwater diving terminology: A–C
- Glossary of underwater diving terminology: D–G
- Glossary of underwater diving terminology: H–O
- Glossary of underwater diving terminology: P–S
- Glossary of underwater diving terminology: T–Z
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P
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Pa
- panic
A sudden sensation of fear which is so strong as to dominate or prevent reason and logical thinking, replacing it with overwhelming feelings of anxiety and frantic agitation consistent with an irrational fight-or-flight reaction
- parallel compartments
A decompression model comprising a group of tissues with varied rates of perfusion, but supplied by blood of approximately equivalent gas concentration. It is assumed that there is no gas transfer between tissue compartments by diffusion. This results in a parallel set of independent tissues, each with its own rate of ingassing and outgassing dependent on the rate of blood flowing through the tissue
- partial pressure
(Abbreviation PP or pp) The pressure that a component gas of a gas mixture would exert if it alone was present in the volume occupied by the gas mixture.[1]
- partial pressure gradient
The rate of change of partial pressure of dissolved gas through a solvent, which is the driving mechanism for diffusion through the solvent. Also loosely used to refer to the difference between the dissolved gas pressure in a tissue and ambient pressure.[2]
- passive addition
Feed gas addition system for semi-closed circuit rebreathers which discharges a part of the gas in the breathing circuit. fresh gas is added when the volume of the circuit decreases during inhalation and triggers the addition valve. Compare with active addition.
- patent foramen ovale
A common form of congenital heart defect that enables blood flow between the left and right atria through a gap in the interatrial septum. In some circumstances this may increase risk of decompression sickness if venous blood carrying gas bubbles is shunted into the arterial system, bypassing the pulmonary capillary network filter.[3]
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Pe
- pendulum rebreather
Rebreather with a single breathing hose from the mouthpiece to the scrubber and counterlung. Gas passes through it in both directions, unlike the one-way breathing loop configuration. The volume of the hose between the mouthpiece and scrubber is dead space[4]
- penetration
Entering a region with no direct vertical access to the surface, such as a cave or the interior of a wreck.
- penetration line
- percolation
- Cave diving: Bubbles making their way to the walls and the ceiling of the cave and dislodging silt.[5]
- perfusion
The passage of fluid through the circulatory system or lymphatic system to an organ or a tissue, usually referring to the delivery of blood to a capillary bed in tissue.[2]
- perfusion limited
The assumption in a decompression model that perfusion has the dominant influence on gas uptake and release. Compare with diffusion limited.[6]
- permanent stamp markings
- permanent markings
- stamp markings
Text and symbols stamped into the metal of the shoulder of a diving cylinder providing obligatory and optional information about the cylinder.[7]
- personal locator beacon
Radio beacons for personal use which are intended to indicate a person in distress who is away from normal emergency services.
- personal protective equipment
- personal safety equipment
Equipment worn by personnel to reduce risk of injury at sites where it is not practicable to eliminate the hazard, including ear protectors, safety glasses, hard hats, gloves, overalls, respirators etc. Diving suits and underwater breathing apparatus are also personal protective equipment.[8]
- PFO
- photo quadrat
A photograph of a quadrat taken for later analysis. Common in marine ecological research where in situ counting would be impractical. Quadrats may be identified by rigid frames or by a fixed camera to subject distance.[9]
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Pi
- pig
Pipeline inspection gauge: A tool that is sent through a pipeline and propelled by the pressure of the product in the pipeline itself, for purposes such as cleaning, dewatering, inspecting, measuring, separation of contents, etc.[1]
- pigtail
- Coiled section of pipe to provide greater flexibility.
- pillar valve
- pin index connection
Standard connection type for portable medical oxygen cylinder valves and regulators.[10]
- pinnacle
- A distinct local high point on a reef, similar to a geological pinnacle, but usage is somewhat looser, and may refer to a large boulder on top of a outcrop, or the tallest in a cluster of high points. In many cases the exact topography is unknown as it has not been seen or surveyed in high enough resolution. The term usually implies a submerged feature but has also been applied to exposed and half-tide rocks.
- pipeline end manifold
The place where a flexible underwater hose string is attached to connect a seabed pipeline with a single point mooring.[11]
- piston bolt
- placement
- 1. Securing the guideline as it is being run.[12]
- 2. The choice of primary and secondary tie offs of the guideline.[12]
- 3. The laying of fresh concrete.
- PLB
- PLEM
- plug stab
- (also dummy stab, parking stab) A plug to protect a hot stab receptacle when not in use.[13]
- pneumo breathing
Use of the pneumofathometer hose to supply breathing gas to a surface supplied diver in an emergency. Supply can be from the diver's own pneumo hose or from a standby diver's pneumo hose.[14]
- pneumofathometer
Instrument to measure the depth of a diver, which measures the ambient pressure at the diver by measuring the pressure in a hose filled with air with an open end at the diver and with the surface end connected to a gas supply, control valve and pressure gauge calibrated in msw, fsw, or often both.[1][15]
- pneumothorax
Air or other breathing gas in the chest cavity, outside of the lung, particularly between the pulmonary pleurae, sometimes resulting in a collapsed lung.
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Po
- pony cylinder
- pony bottle
- pony tank
Relatively small scuba set, usually carried as an independent alternative breathing gas source by a recreational scuba diver.
- P-port
- A large bore airtight quick connector fitting designed and used by Dräger on diving and firefighting breathing apparatus, for ambient pressure breathing gas connections, which has been used in rebreathers, particularly modifications, and full-face masks. Part of the Dräger P-connector system.[16]
- positive displacement
(of compressor) A configuration that compresses gas by reducing the volume of the compression chamber (eg. cylinder) by mechanical means (eg. piston) to produce higher pressure of the contents which flow out via the exhaust port, usually through a non-return valve.[17]
May also refer to a pump in which a fixed volume is transferred during each cycle, relatively independent of inlet and outlet pressures.- positive pressure breathing
- positive static lung load
Breathing against an external pressure slightly greater than the relaxed pressure in the lungs. More effort is needed to exhale, less to inhale. This can occur when using a positive pressure mask, front mounted counterlungs on a rebreather, or if in a steep head down position with a single-hose demand valve.
- positive pressure mask
A full-face mask which maintains an internal pressure slightly higher than external ambient pressure, necessitating slight positive pressure breathing, and ensuring that if the mask skirt seal fails, gas will leak out, rather than water leaking in, which provides a more secure airway and provides some protection against contaminated water.[18]
- precautionary stop
- precautionary decompression stop
- pre-fill external inspection
Examination of the external condition of a pressure vessel and fittings to ensure that it complies with requirements before accepting for filling.[19]
- pre-mix
Nitrox blend supplied in bulk containers for decanting or boosting for direct use, or with high oxygen content used to blend nitrox of lower oxygen content by topping up the decanted pre-mix with air.
- pressure transducer
A component that produces an output signal proportional to a pressure input, which can be processed to give an output indicating the pressure. Used in dive computers, electronic pressure gauges, and pressure transmitters, among other uses.[20]
- pressure transmitter
Pressure transducer (q.v.) with a wireless transmitter that sends a coded signal to the diver's dive computer which uses the data to display remaining cylinder pressure, which can in some applications be used to provide other gas management information.
- primary light
- The main light to be used on a dive. Usually the most powerful.[21][22]
- primary regulator
- the regulator which the diver intends to breathe from for most of the dive. Particularly when diving with back-mounted manifolded twin cylinders.
- primary tie-off
- First tie off of the guideline in a penetration dive. This is usually made in a place with free vertical access to the surface.[23]
- professional diving
Diving which is done as part of the diver's employment or professional occupation. Definitions vary in different jurisdictions.[24]
- progressive penetration
An incremental approach to cave and wreck exploration. Each dive goes a bit further so that the divers develop a familiarity with the environment.[12]
- PRV
Type of safety valve used to control or limit the pressure in a system.
- psi
Unit of pressure in the Imperial system.
- PTT
Push to talk: Voice communication systems which require the user to press a button to transmit. Used with through water systems to conserve battery power.
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Pu
- public safety diving
The underwater work conducted by law enforcement, fire department rescue, and search & rescue/recovery dive teams.
- pull
- 1. A relatively long pull on a lifeline when used for rope signals. (see "bell" for comparison).[11]
- 2. Part of an ascent between the bottom and a decompression stop, between decompression stops, or to the surface.[25] Possibly deriving from the practice of the diver's tender pulling a surface-supplied diver up by the umbilical or lifeline, and stopping the ascent at the depths planned for staged decompression.
- pulmonary over-inflation syndrome
Pulmonary barotrauma of ascent related diseases. Lung over-pressure injury which may manifest as arterial gas embolism, pneumothorax, tension pneumothorax, mediastinal emphysema, subcutaneous emphysema or occasionally pneumopericardium.[26]
- purge
- 1. To press the purge button on a demand valve to induce a gas flow which is intended to clear the demand valve, full-face mask, or demand helmet interior of water or other substances.[27]
- 2. Flush the breathing circuit of an oxygen rebreather to remove residual inert gas.[28]
Button or flexible area on the front or side of a demand valve which allows the user to manually open the second stage valve to provide gas flow without inhalation.[27]
- purge valve
Non-return valve in snorkel or mask which allows water to drain either under gravity or as a result of exhalation into the air space
- push gradient
- Tech diving jargon: Decompress at a high gradient factor, particularly when exceeding the baseline M-value. This will expose the diver to a higher risk of developing decompression sickness while reducing time decompressing in the water.[29]
- push-pull rebreather
- P-valve
A valved catheter fitted to a dry suit, which enables a diver to urinate at any time without having to get out of the water.[30]
- Pyle stop
Named after Richard Pyle, an early advocate of deep stops. An additional brief deep decompression stop, typically 2 minutes long and half way between the maximum depth and the first conventional decompression stop.[31]
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Q
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- quick link
- Oval connector shaped like a chain link with a screw gate on one side.
- quad
- A group of high pressure gas storage cylinders mounted upright on a rectangular frame and manifolded together. Usually in 4, 6, 9, 12, or 16 cylinder arrangements.[32]
- quadrat
A small, typically rectangular plot used in ecology and geography to isolate a standard unit of area for study of the distribution of an item over a large area. The quadrat is suitable for sampling plants and slow-moving or sessile animals.
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R
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Ra
- rams head
Frame attached to the top of back-mounted scuba cylinders to protect valves, manifold, and regulator first stages from impact with the surroundings.
- rapture of the deep
- rash guard
- rash vest
- rashie
A shirt made of spandex and nylon or polyester, worn to protect against rashes caused by abrasion, and jellyfish stings. These shirts can be worn by themselves, in tropical water, or under a wetsuit.
- Rat hat
- Ratcliffe diving helmet, Designed by Bob Ratcliffe (engineer), later produced by Oceaneering International. No longer in production.[33]
- ratio decompression
A technique for calculating decompression schedules for scuba divers engaged in deep diving without using dive tables, decompression software or a dive computer.[34][35]
- RDP
Re
- rebreather
Underwater breathing apparatus which recycles most of the exhaled gas, removing carbon dioxide and topping up oxygen before the gas is breathed again.[36]
- reciprocating compressor
Compressor in which the volume of the compression chamber/s is cyclically changed by reversing linear motion. Usually a positive-displacement compressor that uses pistons driven by a crankshaft to deliver gases a raised pressure.[37][38]
- reclaim helmet
Diving helmet with a reclaim gas regulator allowing exhaled gas to be safely returned to the surface through an additional hose on the umbilical.[39]
- reclaim regulator
A diving regulator designed to safely return exhaled gas to a reclaim hose at lower than ambient pressure. Function is similar to a BIBS exhaust valve.[40]
- reclaim system
System for recovering helium based breathing gas used by divers and recycling it.[41][42]
- recompression
- 1. Subjecting a diver to pressure after an ascent from a dive as treatment for decompression illness.[43] Preferably done in a recompression chamber, but occasionally done as in-water recompression.[44]
- 2. Returning a diver to pressure as the first stage of surface decompression or omitted decompression procedure to prevent decompression sickness from developing.[45]
- recompression chamber
A hyperbaric chamber used to treat divers suffering from certain diving disorders such as decompression sickness.[46]
- recovery breathing
A technique used by freedivers on surfacing to reduce the risk of surface blackout. A partial exhalation is made, followed by a quick inhalation, then the diver closes the airway and pressurises for a few seconds as if about to cough. This is repeated a few times over the first 30 seconds or so on the surface. The aim is to keep thoracic pressure slightly raised to artificially raise arterial oxygen partial pressure or prevent it from dropping in the critical seconds until newly oxygenated blood can reach the brain, and thereby prevent surface blackout. This is the same technique used by pilots during high-g maneuvers, and by mountaineers at high altitude.[47][48]
- recreational diving
- 1. Recreational diving may be considered to be any underwater diving that is not occupational, professional, or commercial, in that the dive is fundamentally at the discretion of the diver, who dives either to their own plan, or to a plan developed in consensus with the other divers in the group, though dives led by a professional dive leader or instructor for non-occupational purposes are also legally classified as recreational dives in some legislations.[49][50][51]
- 2. Recreational diving or sport diving is a type of diving that uses scuba equipment for the purpose of leisure and enjoyment. In some diving circles, the term "recreational diving" is used in contradistinction to "technical diving", a more demanding aspect of the sport which requires greater levels of training, experience and equipment. In other circles, technical diving is considered a subset of recreational diving as opposed to "professional diving", which is done as part of the diver's work.
- Recreational Dive Planner
A no-stop decompression table developed by DSAT.[52][53]
- red tide
- reduced gradient bubble model
A computationally intensive bubble model decompression algorithm developed by Bruce Wienke.[54][55]
- redundancy
- redundant
Technical diving philosophy of ensuring that a spare or backup is available for any item of life-support equipment that would immediately endanger the diver if it were to fail.[56]
- redundant breathing gas supply
A breathing gas supply, carried by the diver, which is both suitable for the depths at which it may be breathed, and sufficient to allow the diver to make a safe and controlled return to the surface or other place where more breathing gas is available, which is not used during the dive, and is stored in one or more cylinders which are mot the one the diver is breathing from at any given time.[57]
- redundant equipment
- duplicated or spare equipment carried by the diver or team to substitute for vital primary equipment in case of a malfunction. In some cases, such as cave lights, multiple redundancy may be desirable. A redundant breathing gas supply is the most common example.[58]
- reef
A ridge or shoal of rock, coral, or similar relatively stable material lying beneath the surface of a natural body of water.In recreational diving the term is also used for a slope or outcrop of similar material, or an artificial reef.
- reef dive
- reef diving
- Dive at a reef site. Possibly the most common type of recreational dive site types. Coral reefs may be more popular as diving destinations, but rocky reefs are probably more globally widespread. Reef topography ranges from relatively flat to vertical walls and overhangs, which may include caves and other overhead environments.
- reel
- Mechanism used to store, deploy and recover long lengths of line at low tension.
- reference temperature
- Temperature at which a cylinder may be safely and legally filled to the nominal charging pressure without corrections.[19]
- regulator
- 1. A mechanism for controlling the output pressure of a high pressure gas supply.
- 2. As 1, with a demand valve (q.v.) incorporated which provides the diver with breathing gas at ambient pressure.
- regulator changeout
- regulator swap-out
- Scuba emergency skill of swapping a correctly functioning regulator with one that is malfunctioning to gain access to breathing gas in a cylinder while underwater. Usually applied to side- or sling-mounted cylinders.
- regulator freeze
Locking of the regulator mechanism caused by freezing of the water due to expansion cooling of the regulated air. Often causes the mechanism to lock open, causing free flow and further cooling.[59]
- reject criteria
- rejection criteria
- Features, states or conditions which are not acceptable.[19]
- repetitive dives
Any dive which is done while the tissues retain residual inert gas from a previous dive.[45]
- repet-up
- Commercial diving term for a type of multilevel dive, in which the depth is decreased over elapsed time, with the purpose of allowing a longer useful dive time and minimising decompression time.[60]
- Repex
- Method of estimating tolerable repetitive exposure to high partial pressure oxygen.[61]
- rescue tether
- A short lanyard or strap carried by a surface supplied stand-by diver to be used to tether an unresponsive diver to the standby diver during a rescue. It is attached at one end to a D-ring on the stand-by diver's harness, and has a clip at the other end which may be secured to a D-ring on the casualty's harness to allow the rescuer the use of both hands during the return to the bell or surface.
- reserve gas
Gas which is not intended to be used during the dive, and is reserved for contingencies.
- reserve valve
Cylinder valve with a lever operated bypass valve to release the gas below reserve pressure.[62]
- residual gas
- Gas remaining in a cylinder from the previous fill.
- residual nitrogen
Nitrogen in excess of normal atmospheric saturation remaining in the diver's tissues after a dive.
- residual nitrogen time
Time penalty in a repetitive dive equivalent to time at depth which would produce the residual nitrogen in the diver at the start of the dive.
- residual pressure
- Pressure of the gas remaining in a partly used cylinder from the previous fill.
- resort dive
Recreational dive by an uncertified person under the paid direct supervision of a recreational diving instructor, after a very basic training session to learn the essential safety skills in confined water. Resort dives are limited to shallow water free of significant additional hazards. No certification is gained, though the dive may count towards an entry level certification if it follows closely. Compare with try-diving and Supervised diver.
- respiratory minute volume
The volume of gas inhaled (inhaled minute volume) or exhaled (exhaled minute volume) from a person's lungs in one minute.
- respiratory quotient
The ratio of carbon dioxide produced as a metabolic product to the oxygen consumed.
- restriction
- Section of a cave which is difficult to pass through due to lack of space. A minor restriction is too small for two divers to swim through together, a major restriction requires the diver to remove equipment to fit through.
- revalidation
- Certification that an item of equipment continues to be fit for service. Usually after passing the required periodic inspection and testing by an approved or authorised practitioner.
- reverse block
- Blockage of a sinus or eustachian tube preventing relatively high internal gas pressure from escaping. [63]
- reverse ear squeeze
Barotrauma of the ear caused by a middle ear gas space pressure greater than ambient pressure, or greater than the pressure in the external autitory canal, causing the eardrum to bulge outwards.[63]
- reverse jump
- Procedure to cross a gap during an exit which allows the line to be retrieved without returning to the start point. In the event of a line break or removed primary reel, one diver holds the end of the search line at the break point, and the other searches for the other part of the broken line or the exit while laying line from the reel. When the original line or exit is found, the reel handler signals to the static diver with line pulls and the static diver swims in the direction of the line while the reel handler reels it in, recovering the line.[64]
- reverse profile
- reverse dive profile
- Repetitive dive which is deeper than the previous dive.[65]
- Multilevel dive in which a later level is deeper than an earlier level.[66]
- reverse sinus squeeze
- Barotrauma of a sinus caused by a relatively high internal pressure.[63]
- RGBM
Ri
- Rimbach system
- System of touch contact signalling used in cave diving. Push forward = go, pull back = back up, squeeze = stop.[12]
- ring bungee
Length of shock cord with metal rings and a clip used to control the position of the top end of a sidemounted cylinder.[67] Differs from a regular bungee in having the rings.[67] A popular configuration is a bolt snap connected to a ring by a quick link, with a length of bungee from the ring to another quick link which is used to connect the assembly to a D-ring on the back of the harness. The bolt snap is clipped to the shoulder D-ring and the cylinder neck bolt snap is clipped to the ring.
- rip current
A strong localised flow of water to seaward from near the shore, typically through the surf line
- riser
A conduit that provides a temporary extension of a subsea oil well to a surface drilling facility
- RMV
- RNPL
- Royal Naval Physiological Laboratory
- RNT
Ro
- rock boot
- Footwear worn over a dry suit with integral socks suitable for walking on hard and rough surfaces and for wearing with fins. They can also be worn over neoprene socks with a wetsuit.[68]
- rock bottom gas management
Retention of a breathing gas reserve based on calculated values for the amount of gas required for a safe ascent from any point in the planned dive profile. Factors such as emergency supply of gas to a buddy, air consumption rates under stress and decompression gas requirements are considered in the calculations.
- roll-off
- Closing of a cylinder valve as a result of scraping contact between the valve knob and the overhead or other surroundings. The left hand knob is more likely to roll-off, closing the backup regulator in the standard twins configuration. Roll-off is an emergency if the diver does not have an immediately accessible alternative breathable gas supply.[64]
- ROV
- ROUV
- Remotely operated underwater vehicle – A tethered underwater mobile device operated by a remote crew.
- roughneck
- Member of the drilling crew who works under the direction of the driller to make or break connections as drillpipe is tripped in or out of the hole.[11]
- roustabout
- Any unskilled manual laborer on the rigsite.[11]
Ru
- rule of thirds
Cave and wreck penetration breathing gas management convention where no more than one third of the gas in a cylinder may be used on the inward part of the dive, and the other two thirds is kept for exit: One third for the planned exit, and one third in case of an emergency.[69]
- run line
- running line
- Unreeling line under light tension while advancing. Usually in the context of laying a distance line.
- run time
- Time elapsed since the start of a dive.
- running stop
- A pause made during ascent to adjust the average ascent rate to the nominal value. For example a nominal ascent rate of 3 m per minute might use an actual ascent rate of about 5 m per minute and make a stop every 3m until the end of the current minute, resulting in a slightly stepped profile with an overall ascent rate corresponding to the nominal rate.[34]
- run time schedule
- Decompression schedule and dive plan based on elapsed time from the start of the dive, All waypoints and events are specified in terms of elapsed time with start of descent at zero.
- R-valve
A cylinder valve which limits the outflow by a calibrated orifice when in the "on" position.[70]
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Sa
- SAC rate
- safe air
- Term used for nitrox by American Nitrox Divers International (ANDI)
- safe second
- Obsolete term for octopus regulator.[64]
- safety-critical element
- Item of equipment or process with the purpose to prevent or limit the consequences of a high risk hazard, that if realised, could result in the fatality or severe injury of one or more divers or support crew.[1]
- safety reel
- Reel with relatively short line for use in an emergency, usually for searches to find a lost buddy or lost guideline or to jump a line break.[64]
- safety spool
- Spool with relatively short line for use in an emergency, usually for searches to find lost buddy or lost guideline or to jump a line break.[64]
- safety stop
A voluntary (not required by the decompression schedule) additional decompression stop intended to further reduce risk of decompression sickness.[71][72]
- salt water aspiration syndrome
A reaction of the lungs to inhalation of a mist of salt water.[73]
- samba
- Involuntary muscular contractions experienced by breathhold divers when approaching hypoxic blackout.[74]
- Sasuba
- A shallow water recreational air line diving system using a scuba cylinder on a float towed by the diver.
- saturation
Condition where the inert components of the breathing gas dissolved in a diver's tissues are in equilibrium with the gas in the lungs.[43]
- saturation diving
Diving mode where the divers remain pressurised for long enough for the slowest tissues to saturate with the inert components of the breathing gas, usually for periods of several days or weeks, and decompress only at the end of the period. Decompression from saturation is controlled only by the slowest tissue.[75][76]
- saturation diving system
- saturation spread
The combination of equipment and services to operate a saturation diving project. It would include the closed diving bell, the accommodation modules, decompression chamber, life-support systems, gas storage and supply systems, pressurisation equipment, underwater breathing apparatus, and launch and recovery systems. In may also include a hyperbaric evacuation system.[77]
Sc
- SCBA
- Self-contained breathing apparatus. The broader class of breathing apparatus carried by the user. Conventional usage usually refers to equipment which is not intended for underwater use, but scuba (originally self-contained underwater breathing apparatus) is technically a subclass of SCBA. Compare with breathing apparatus (BA) and underwater breathing apparatus (UBA).
- schrader valve
Valve using a standard automotive tyre valve insert, common in low pressure inflation hose female connectors and BC inflation valves.[64]
- scientific diving
Diving for purposes of scientific research. The rules and constraints of scientific diving vary in different jurisdictions, but generally allow different options to mainstream commercial diving.
- scooter
- Diver propulsion vehicle used by scuba divers to increase range underwater.[64]
- scooter ring
- D-ring on scuba harness used to attach to scooter tow line. Usually on front of the harness crotch strap.[64]
- SCR
- 1. Semi-closed circuit rebreather: A rebreather (q.v.) which either dumps part of each breath to the environment or continuously adds gas and dumps the excess. Compare with closed circuit rebreather (CCR) (q.v.).
- 2. Surface Consumption Rate - An alternative term with the same meaning as Surface Air Consumption (SAC) (q.v.). Not to be confused with Semi-closed Circuit Rebreather.
- screw gate carabiner
A clip mechanism which can be locked in the closed position by turning a threaded barrel.
- scrubber
Canister containing material (sorb) which chemically combines with carbon dioxide to remove it from the gas passed through the canister.
- scuba
- SCUBA
Self-contained underwater breathing apparatus. May be open or closed circuit.
- scuba orienteering
Competitive underwater sport in which scuba divers attempt to swim a circuit marked by buoys, without surfacing, using compass navigation and mechanical distance measurement. Points are awarded for time and accuracy according to the specific course definition and length.
- scuba replacement
Mobile surface-supplied diving equipment using portable gas storage cylinders for primary and reserve breathing gas supply. Preferred to scuba for commercial diving applications due to lower perceived risk compared to scuba, and because equipment and procedures are otherwise identical to surface supplied diving using compressors for air supply. Used when logistical constraints or air quality issues preclude use of a compressor.[1]
- S-drill
- Safety drill. An air sharing exercise based on deploying the long hose primary regulator.
Se
- search line
Cord used to indicate the transect for a search. The diver moves along the line, searching by sight or feel on one or both sides of the line. After the transect has been searched, the line is moved to the next transect. usually a short distance offset from the previous position, at a distance which depends on the visibility and the size of the target.
- search pattern
Systematic procedure for covering the search area sufficiently to be reasonably sure of finding a given target if it is there. Several patterns are in general use for underwater searches, depending on the target, the terrain, and available facilities.
- secondary drowning
A complication of aspiration of water or other fluids into the lungs.
- secondary regulator
- second stage
The part of a diving regulator which provides pressure reduction from intermediate pressure to ambient pressure on demand. Demand valve.[78]
- self-propelled hyperbaric lifeboat (SPHL)
A pressure vessel adapted for use as a means of hyperbaric evacuation, and fitted to a conventional lifeboat hull.[1]
- semi-dry suit
A wet suit with wrist and ankle seals, and usually a more watertight zipper than usual, to reduce flushing of water through the suit.
- separator
Device which facilitates the separation of liquid particles from the compressed gas, usually with a drain to periodically remove accumulated liquid from the system.
- serial compartments
A decompression model based on the assumption that diffusion is the limiting mechanism of dissolved gas transport in the tissues, in which there is perfusion transport for one compartment, and diffusion between a series of compartments,
- serial number
- 1. Number stamped on the cylinder by the manufacturer in the shoulder area which identifies the cylinder. In combination with the manufacturer’s identification this will be unique to the cylinder.[19]
- 2. Character string, including number, marked on an item of equipment by the manufacturer to uniquely identify it.
- setpoint
- set-point
- set point
Reference value for oxygen partial pressure in an electronically controlled closed circuit rebreather. The control system monitors the real time value of oxygen partial pressure in the breathing loop and automatically adjusts the composition by adding gas to keep the concentration between the upper and lower set-points.[79][80]
- SGC
Surface Gas Consumption
Sh
- shallow water blackout
- Loss of consciousness during a dive associated with occurrence at a shallow depth. Used for several different mechanisms, depending on context, therefore often leading to confusion.
- 1. See: Shallow-water blackout
Loss of consciousness caused by cerebral hypoxia towards the end of a breath-hold dive in water typically shallower than five metres (16 feet), when the swimmer does not necessarily experience an urgent need to breathe and has no other obvious medical condition that might have caused it.[81] - 2. See: Freediving blackout#Terminology and latent hypoxia
Loss of consciousness caused by cerebral hypoxia at the end of a deep breath-hold dive during the latter part of the ascent or immediately after surfacing due to lowered pO2 caused by reduction in ambient pressure, see also latent hypoxia. - 3. Loss of consciousness while ascending on a rebreather due to sudden drop of pO2 in the breathing loop, usually associated with manual CCR and SCR.
- Electrical device carried by a diver intended to repel sharks by electrical field pulses.[82]
- shock cord
- shore diving
- Diving from a shore entry point.
- shot line
A rope between a float at the surface, and a sufficiently heavy weight holding the rope approximately vertical.[83]
Si
- sidemount
A scuba diving equipment configuration which has diving cylinders mounted alongside the diver, below the shoulders and along the hips, instead of on the back of the diver.[84]
- sidemount staging
The practice of using sidemount configuration (bungee loops and/or butt-plate rails) as a means for stowing stage/deco cylinders when otherwise diving in back-mounted scuba.[85]
- silent entry
An entry technique which minimises noise and splash, suitable for entry from a low platform. The diver sits with feet dangling over or into the water, turns their torso sideways, takes their weight on their hands, then swings off the surface and drops feet first into the water, slowed by their arms, and lets go with the hands when in the water.[86]: 251
- silica gel
A desiccant filter medium used to adsorb water.
- silt out
A situation when underwater visibility is rapidly reduced to zero, usually when a diver disturbs silt deposits.[87][88]
- silt screw
Device which is inserted into silt or sand to provide an anchor point, such as for a tie-off on a cave line.[67] Silt screws are generally stakes made from small bore plastic (PVC) pipe with a sharpened end.
- simultaneous operations
- Two or more potentially clashing operations occurring, for example, at the same time and same location.[1]
- single point mooring
A loading buoy anchored offshore, that serves as a mooring point and interconnect for tankers loading or offloading gas or liquid products. SPMs are the link between geostatic subsea manifold connections and weathervaning tankers. They are capable of handling any size ship, even very large crude carriers (VLCC) where no alternative facility is available[11]
- sinkhole
A natural depression or hole in the Earth's surface caused by karst processes — the chemical dissolution of carbonate rocks – or suffosion processes for example in sandstone[89][90]
- sintered
Particulate or granular material bonded together by the application of pressure and sufficient heat to partially melt the surface of the particles and weld them together. The product is usually porous.[91][92]
- siphon
- Place where water from a stream flows into the ground. also "swallow hole"[12]
- skandalopetra
A flat stone, usually of marble or granite, weighing between 8 and 14 kg, with rounded corners and edges, and tied to a rope, historically used by Greek sponge free-divers to assist descent. When the diver wishes to ascend the rope is used to signal the tender on the boat who then pulls in the rope. Currently skandalopetra diving is a competitive sport.[93][94]
- skin
- skins
- skip breathing
Breathing pattern where the diver holds each breath a while to conserve breathing gas, which can cause hypercapnia which can lead to headaches, aggravate nitrogen narcosis, increase risk of oxygen toxicity, and reduce physiological reserves in an emergency.[95]
- skirt
- 1. The body of a diving mask providing a watertight seal between the lens and the face.[96][97]: 4–17
- 2. The jacket and trouser waist flaps of a two-piece dry suit, which are overlapped and rolled together to provide a watertight seal.[30]: Ch. 1
- S-lay
Method of laying undersea pipelines by welding the sections together on the lay barge and deploying them from the stern horizontally guided by a "stinger" - a structure that supports the pipe string to control its bend radius.[98] The term refers to the shape of the bend in the pipe which transitions from roughly horizontal onboard where the sections are welded together, to angled downward over the stinger, to roughly horizontal again as it settles on the seabed.
- slate
Rigid hard plastic tablet used for writing messages or notes underwater. Compare with wet notes. Usually with a slightly roughened surface to accept pencil marks.
- sling cylinder
- sling mount
Independent cylinder with its own regulator carried clipped to the harness at the side of the diver. Compare with sidemount, and stage cylinder.
- slingshot valve
A cylinder valve with two valved outlets angled to left and right of the centreline
- slob knob
- Flexible extension used for operating valve knobs on a manifold
- SMB
- snag line
- Line used for underwater search intended to snag on the target. May be dragged by boats or by divers. May be weighted if dragged over a smooth bottom.
- snap shackle
A clip connector mechanism which locks when closed, can be operated without tools, and can usually be released under load.
- snoopy loop
A heavy duty elastic band made from a slice of inner tube.
- snoot
Accessory for a photographic strobe which limits illumination of the subject to a very small area, leaving the background datk, and virtually eliminating backscatter.
- snorkel
Tube with a bend and mouthpiece used for breathing air from above the water surface when the wearer's mouth and nose are submerged.
- snorkeling
- snorkelling
Swimming at the surface of the water while breathing through a snorkel. the snorkeller is almost always equipped with a diving mask or swim goggles, and usually swimfins.
- snorkel keeper
Device to hold a snorkel in place at the side of a diving mask by fixing it to the mask strap.
- Snuba
Snuba is a portmanteau of "snorkel" and "scuba", referring to a proprietary recreational surface supplied underwater breathing system supplied from a cylinder mounted on a small raft towed by the diver.
So
- solo diving
The practice of scuba diving alone, without a dive buddy or in-water standby diver.[99]
- sonic orifice
Metering device to provide constant mass flow of a gas.
- sorb
Carbon dioxide absorbent material used in rebreather or life support system scrubber to remove carbon dioxide from the breathing gas so it may be recycled.[100]
Sp
- speargun
Hunting weapon for shooting fish underwater which propels a barbed steel spear a short distance forward using stored energy from stretched rubber strips or compressed air behind a captive piston.[101]
- spearo
- Slang term for breathhold spearfisher.
- speech unscrambler
An electronic device to render words spoken in a hyperbaric helium environment intelligible.[1][102]
- speleogen
Dissolution features in bedrock.[103]
- speleothem
Also known as a cave formation: A secondary mineral deposit formed in a cave.[104]
- SPG
- SPHL
- spider
Mask strap system for full-face masks with three or more straps. (commonly 5)
- spitcock
A valve in the side of a copper diving helmet which could be used by the diver to suck in a mouthful of seawater to spit onto the inside face of a viewport to wash off condensation droplets to improve their view.[105]
- SPM
- spool
- 1. See: Distance line#Spools
Circular device for storing line, comprising a short tubular section with a relatively large flange at each end. No moving parts. A small, compact, economical and reliable alternative to a reel for relatively short lines.[106] - 2. Short, straight section of pipe or tube with a flange at each end. Also a wider range of short weldments for various purposes as components of a piping system assembled from sections of pipe, flanges and other fittings.[107]
- spread
- The topside base for (usually) surface supplied commercial diving operations. Also "air spread" and "saturation spread" (q.v.) depending on the diving mode.[108]
- spring
Place where a concentrated flow of water emerges from the ground.[109]
- spring strap
Fin strap using a stainless steel spring to secure the fin to the foot.
- spring suit
- A wetsuit that covers the torso and has short sleeves and long or short legs
- spud
- spud pile
- 1. A vertical steel shaft like a pile, temporarily or permanently driven into the seabed to maintain the lateral position of a barge or structure [110][111]
- 2. A short rigid column driven into the ground and then removed to make a hole to initiate driving a pile, or to break through a hard layer.[111]
- spud can
- The foot on a leg of a Jack-up rig oil platform designed to spread the load so that the rig does not sink too deeply into the sea-bed.[11] Commonly a wide shallow conical disc structure to support the weight, with a penetrating central tip to resist lateral sliding, though details vary.[112]
- spud well
- spud pocket
- A vertical sleeve for a spud that is attached to a spud barge to support and guide a mooring spud on a barge.[113]
- SPUMS
- South Pacific Underwater Medicine Society
- square profile
Dive profile where the diver descends continuously to the maximum depth and stays there for the duration of the dive before ascending directly at a stedy rate to the surface or first decompression stop. This profile provides worst case exposure for gas absorption by the body tissues for a given depth and bottom time, and is assumed for most decompression planning using decompression tables.[114]
- squeeze
Injury or discomfort caused by increase of ambient pressure above the pressure in a gas space in contact with the diver's body, causing a pressure difference tending to squeeze body tissues into the lower pressure volume of the gas space. A cause of several kinds of barotrauma.
- SSDE
- Surface-supply diving equipment.
St
- stab
Type of subsea connector
- stabiliser jacket
- stabilizer jacket
- stab jacket
- stage
- 1. See: diving stage
- 2. See: stage cylinder
- 3. Part of a dive in which gas is breathed from a specific stage cylinder
- stage cylinder
- stage bottle
- 1. A cylinder used for a stage of a long penetration dive, also known as drop cylinder when it is placed on the distance line to be collected on the return. The term may be used for the cylinder and rigging with or without a regulator[115]
- 2. Also generically and loosely used to refer to decompression gas cylinders, bailout cylinders, travel gas, or bottom gas carried as sling cylinders (q.v.)[115]
- staged decompression
The practice of making decompression stops.
- stage-drop
Placing a stage cylinder at the distance line for planned later use.
- stage-only diving
The use of standard deco/stage cylinder configuration, without back-mounted cylinders, on an otherwise standard, or partially modified tec/rec BCD. The cylinders are attached to waist and shoulder D-Rings by direct bolt-snap, and no bungee cord is used in the upper attachment. Similar to, and may be confused with sidemount[116]
- stage rigging
The clips, straps and cords fastened to a scuba cylinder which are used to mount it as a stage cylinder.
- stage set
A scuba set to be used during a specific stage of a dive. Often rigged and carried as a sling mount or sidemount set. Sometimes dropped at the end of the outward leg of the stage, and retrieved on the return to complete the return leg of the same stage.
- standard diving dress
- standard dress
Early free flow surface supplied diving equipment using a heavy rubberised canvas suit, copper helmet and corselet, and weighted boots. Still in use in some parts of the world.[43]
- standard diving helmet
The copper and brass free-flow diving diving helmet used with standard diving dress.
- standard operating procedure
Procedure compiled by an organisation prescribing the processes to be followed when performing specified tasks.[117][118]
- standby diver
- stand-by diver
(Professional) diver functioning as a safety backup to the working diver. Often on the surface at the dive control point, but ready to enter the water at very short notice on the instruction of the supervisor. In bell diving the stand-by diver would be the bellman.[1]
- static apnea
- static apnoea
Underwater breath-holding without changing location[119]
- static lung load
The pressure difference between gas inside the lungs and the gas inside the mouthpiece of the breathing apparatus or inside the helmet. In most rebreathers this is the hydrostatic pressure at depth of the counterlung. In ballasted bellows counterlungs the pressure is modified by the force exerted by the ballast weight.[120]
- steamer
- A full one piece Wetsuit that covers the torso and the full length of the arms and legs.
- stinger
- An overboard extension at the stern of an offshore pipe lay barge used to provide additional support at the over bend of an S-lay during offshore construction.[98]
- stop
- storage depth
Depth pressure in a saturation system at which divers live between compression and decompression when not locked out on a dive.[121]
- stride entry
Entry technique from a platform a small to moderate distance above the water surface, which is suitable to stand on before entry. The diver faces the water and steps out with the leading foot, pushing away from the platform with the back foot, and drops into the water while maintaining a vertical posture until fully submerged. It is usually advisable to hold loose equipment against the body, particularly the mask and DV, and if there is no crotch strap, the buoyancy compensator is held to prevent it riding up the torso on impact. The feet can be brought together after initial impact to limit depth of immersion in moderately shallow water, by applying fin thrust downwards.[122]
- stroke
- Derogatory term used by DIR zealots to describe divers who do not follow DIR procedures and use DIR approved equipment and configurations.
Su
- subcutaneous emphysema
Gas under the skin resulting from lung overpressure injury.[28]
- submersible compression chamber
- submersible decompression chamber
A closed diving bell, used for transferring divers under pressure to and from the worksite. Particularly if used for decompression.[43][1]
- submersible pressure gauge
Gauge attached to the first stage regulator and used to monitor pressure remaining in the diving cylinder.[78]
- suicide clip
- Derogatory term for clip mechanisms which are capable of clipping onto a line or other object without the active and intentional intervention of a user.
- suit blowup
Excessive inflation of a dry suit leading to uncontrolled ascent.[30]
- sump
A passage in a cave that is submerged under water.[123]
- sump pack
- Tough waterproof bag with watertight seal used to carry dry equipment in caves, including through water filled passages.[67]
- superoxide scrubber
Rebreather scrubber which not only removes carbon dioxide from the exhaled air, but also replenishes the oxygen by chemical reaction with potassium superoxide.[124]
- supersaturation
A temporary and thermodynamically unstable condition of a solvent containing more dissolved gas than it can hold in solution over the long term for the prevailing conditions. A necessary condition for bubble growth in decompression sickness.
- supersaturation limit
- The theoretical pressure ratio between tissue gas concentration and ambient pressure above which the probability of bubble formation is unacceptably high.[2]
- Supervised Diver
EN 14153-1 / ISO 24801-1 standard competence for recreational scuba diver. The level 1 "Supervised Diver" has sufficient knowledge, skill and experience to dive, in open water, to a recommended maximum depth of 12 m, which do not require in-water decompression stops, under the direct supervision of a dive leader, in groups of up to four level 1 scuba divers per dive leader provided the dive leader is capable of establishing physical contact with all level 1 scuba divers at any point during the dive, only when appropriate support is available at the surface, and under conditions that are equal or better than the conditions where they were trained.[125]
- supervisor
- supply lock
Small lock on a saturation life support habitat for transfer of relatively small items.
- support diver
A voluntary member of a technical diving team who acts as a stand-by diver to the primary dive team, or provides in-water logistical support for a dive.
- SurD
- surf
The mass or line of broken water formed by waves breaking on a shore or reef
- surface air consumption rate
- A measure of air consumption in units of pressure over time, usually psi/minute, adjusted to surface pressure, used to estimate air endurance of a cylinder of specific size. Useful for those who work in imperial units.[126] SAC has a constant value for a given diver and represents gas used on the surface at rest.[127] Surface gas consumption (SGC) is an alternative term referring to alternative breathing gas mixtures. Occasionally also termed surface consumption rate (SCR)[128][129]
- surface compression chamber
- A hyperbaric chamber for surface use for routine decompression or therapeutic recompression.[43]
- surface decompression
A procedure in which some or all of the staged decompression obligation is done in a decompression chamber immediately after surfacing instead of in the water.
- surface detection aids
- Equipment, such as flags, surface marker buoys, flares, EPIRBs, radio beacons mirrors, and whistles, carried by divers to maintain contact with dive boats or attract rescue when lost at sea.[130]
- surface equivalent volume
Gas volume calculated as expanded to surface pressure.
- surface interval
The time spent by a diver at surface pressure after a dive during which inert gas which was still present at the end of the dive is further eliminated from the tissues.
- surface marker buoy
A buoy towed by a diver to indicate the diver's position to people at the surface.
- surface orientated diving
- Any diving operation in which the diver is decompressed to surface pressure after the dive. Compare to saturation diving .[43]
- SURG
- Southern Underwater Research Group. An organisation based in Cape Town, which publishes marine ecology field guides, dive travel guides and underwater maps.[131]
- surge
Reciprocating water movement parallel to the bottom surface caused by the passing of a wave overhead, by analogy with the transient linear motion of a ship in the direction of travel also called surge.
- sustained load cracking
The development of cracks in a material subjected over long term to static stress significantly less than the yield stress. There is a low but significant risk of this mode of failure in pressure vessels of AA6351 aluminium alloy.[132]
- swell
A series of surface gravity waves that is not generated by the local wind.
- swim line
- Line used to space divers across the search area for a swim line search. Each diver holds the line at a distance from the previous diver of somewhat less than twice the visibility distance. The line is used to keep the divers spaced evenly across the search area while swimming perpendicular to the line.
- swimthrough
- swim-through
- A submerged arch or short tunnel that a diver can swim through without needing to remove equipment. It is usually possible to see natural light at the far end in good visibility and illumination. Usually refers to a natural formation. Technically an overhead environment, but usually with no risk of getting lost, though entrapment may be possible.
References
Sources
External links
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