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Scuba Diving Dictionary

Scuba Diving Dictionary Landing Page Description

Whether you’re a new diver or one who’s returning to the sport, or even if you’re a frequent diver with the occasional question that needs answering, you’ll discover that our dive dictionary is a very useful scuba diving resource. Here, you’ll see a comprehensive list of scuba diving terms, along with acronyms and so much more.  Using our scuba dictionary to locate diving terms is quick and easy; just choose a letter or number and click on it, or simply enter a keyword to find its definition. Be sure to contact us if you’re looking for diving terms, acronyms, or any other type of scuba-related jargon you cannot uncover here. We’ll do our best to keep updating our diving dictionary so you can find the answers you need, when you need them.

C

Carbon Dioxide

A colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas, produced by the body through respiration, which can be harmful to humans if it is breathed in excessive amounts

Carbon Dioxide Poisoning

Also known as hypercapnia or hypercarbia, a toxic condition that occurs when too much carbon dioxide gas is inhaled and or absorbed 

Carbon Dioxide Toxicity

A potentially fatal medical condition resulting from the toxic build of CO2 in the blood; symptoms range from intense headaches to blackout

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

A toxic condition that occurs when too much carbon monoxide gas is inhaled and or absorbed 

Carbon-Arc Cutting

An arc-cutting process which severs metal surfaces via the heat from the arc created between a carbon electrode and a base metal. This technique is most often used for cutting and gouging aluminum, copper, iron, magnesium and carbon and stainless steels

Cardia

An opening in the stomach which connects the esophagus and the upper part of the stomach; the cardiac cavity of the stomach

Cardiac

Pertaining to the heart or cardia

Cardiac Arrest

The sudden discontinuation of heartbeat and cardiac function that results in the loss of circulation; a medical emergency that requires immediate resuscitation

Cardiopulmonary

Pertaining to the heart and lungs as a unified body system

Cardiovascular

Pertaining to the heart and blood vessels as a unified body system

Cartilaginous

Pertaining to, or composed of cartilage

D

Dalton's Law

The partial pressure of a given quantity of gas is the pressure it would exert if it alone occupied the same volume; also called Dalton's Law of Partial Pressures

Danger Buoy

Typically moored directly above or on the danger, a buoy used to mark an isolated hazard to navigation, such as a rock, sunken ship, or shoal 

Dark Water

When underwater visibility is reduced to a minimum by material in suspension or by the lack of a natural light source

Davit

A small crane for hoisting or lowering a lifeboat, anchors, or cargo

DAWS

Diver Alternate Work System; the basic design and selection of specialized diving equipment to extend and facilitate work under the surface of water

DC

Also known as direct current; an electric current that only flows in one direction

DCI

Decompression illness (DCI) occurs when there is a reduction in the ambient pressure surrounding the body and includes two separate diseases- decompression sickness (DCS) and arterial gas embolism (AGE)

Debilitation

The state of being weakened; a serious loss of strength and/or energy

Debris

The scattered remains of an item that was broken, wrecked or destroyed

Decibel

Expressed in (dB), a unit used to measure the loudness of a sound

Deco

Short name for decompression

Decompression

The process of decompressing by ascending in the water or experiencing decreasing pressure in a hyperbaric chamber

Decompression Chamber

A hyperbaric chamber, located on a surface platform, that contains a compartment that allows the atmospheric pressure to be adjusted higher or lower so that divers can complete their decompression stops

Decompression Table

A table displaying decompression schedules

Dedicated Dive Resort

Also known as DDD, a resort created for divers and with facilities dedicated to scuba diving

Deep Vein Thrombosis

Also known as DVT, clotted blood vessels in the legs and/or pelvis region

Defogger

A solution used to prevent a dive mask from fogging up such as spit, toothpaste, or commercial solutions

Dehydration

Excessive loss of water from the body or its organs

Depth Gauge

A specialized pressure-sensitive meter used by SCUBA divers to determine the equivalent water depth

E

Ear Squeeze

An adverse diving condition resulting from pressure imbalances in the ear which provide the one or more of the following symptoms: ear pain, pressure in the ear region, hearing loss, ringing in the ear, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, discharges from the ear, nose, and or mouth, hemorrhage, and rupture of the tympanic membrane of the ear

Echocardiography

A method for detecting abnormalities of the heart using high-frequency sonar to create images of the heart and is routinely deployed to diagnose and mange patients with suspected or known heart diseases

Ecology

A branch of biology that studies the relations and interactions between organisms and their environment

Edema

A condition in which excess amounts of fluid accumulates in the extravascular spaces of the body

Edentulous

Without teeth or toothless

Effusion

The escape of fluid into a space or body cavity

Elastometer

A substance with the stretchy, elastic properties of rubber

Electrolysis

The process of chemical decomposition of electrolytic substances through the use of electric current

Emergency Ascent

An unplanned ascent to the surface under stressful conditions resulting from inadequate air supply in which a diver ignores the standard ascent rates and decompression stops

EMS

Emergency Medical Services

Endemic

Species that are found in a specific area

ENT

Abbreviation for ear, nose, and throat conditions

Epilepsy

A central nervous system disorder characterized by sudden recurring episodes of motor or sensory disturbances which often occur with or without loss of consciousness, convulsions, or seizures

Epistaxis

Nosebleed

F

Fail Safe Valve

A valve that operates in safe mode when a failure occurs and which is often held open by remotely maintaining the hydraulic pressure

Fast Tissue

Specialized body tissue which absorbs and releases nitrogen quickly

Fathom

Used specifically to measure water depths; a unit of length which is equal to 6 feet or 1.8 meters 

Fathometer

An instrument used to determine water depth by means of an echo sounder

Fatigue

Extreme tiredness that often results from stress, physical and/or mental exertion, illness, or disease

Fault

Geological term used to describe a break in the earth’s crust

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