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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.

H

Hemo

Referring to the blood

Hemoglobin

The oxygen-carrying pigment of red blood cells responsible for transporting oxygen to the tissues

Hepatitis

Inflammation of the liver which often results from a viral or bacterial infection, alcohol, drugs, parasites or toxins

Hermaphrodite

An organism with both male and female reproductive organs

Hertz

The SI unit of frequency often used to measure the frequency of vibrations and waves; equal to one cycle per second 

I

IAHD

International Association of Handicapped Divers

IANTD

International Association of Nitrox and Technical Divers

Ideal Gas

A hypothetical gas with no interactions which, as a result, exactly obeys the gas laws 

Inert

Having little to no ability to move or chemically react

Inertia

A physical law that tends to keep a motionless body at rest, or a moving body in motion; In other words, the tendency to do nothing

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

IBD is a group of inflammatory conditions of the colon and include ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD)

Inguinal

Referring to the region of the groin

Inguinal Hernia

A hernia within the region of the groin in which a loop of the intestines enters the inguinal canal

Inhalation

The action of breathing in or inhaling which brings air into the lungs

Inlet

A narrow strip of water that leads inland from a lake, river, or ocean

Inner Ear

Portions of the ear, including the semicircular canals, vestibule, and cochlea embedded in the temporal bone, which are responsible for hearing and equilibrium

Inspiration

The drawing of air into the lungs by inspiring or breathing in

Instrument Console

Place where diving instruments are located, including compass, depth gauge, dive computer etc.

Interstitial Emphysema

An accumulation of air in the tissues or organs after suffering from a lung barotrauma

Intrapleural Pressure

Also known as intrathoracic pressure, the pressure within the space between the chest wall and the lungs

Invertebrate

An animal that lacks a backbone

IOMS

International Organization on Marine Sciences

Ionic Bond

Term used in chemistry and physics to describe the chemical bond formed between two ions with opposite charges

ISA

Instrument Society of America

Ischemia

A decrease in blood supply to organs, tissues, or other parts of the body resulting from an obstruction of an artery

ISO

International Standards Organization

J

Jaundice

A yellow discoloration of the skin or whites of the eyes which may result from the presence of bile in the blood

Jellyfish

A free-swimming marine coelenterate belonging to the Scyphozoa class which is made up of a gelatinous structure with a saucer-shaped body and long, trailing tentacles that are capable of injecting poisions into animals and divers

Jettison

Throwing objects from a ship, especially in order to lighten its load while in distress

Jetty

A structure such as a pier that is constructed to help protect the coast or harbor from storms or erosion and for which allows for boats to be docked 

Jugular

Refers to the region of the neck or throat 

Jump

Alias for a dive

K

K-Valve

A simple on/off valve that regulates the air flow from a scuba tank

Kayak Diving

An alternative to boat diving or shore diving in which the diver uses a special purpose kayak to get to the dive site

Kelp

A large brown seaweed that comes in different varieties and is used as a source of various salts

Kicking Strokes

Controlled, rhythmic movements made with a diver’s legs while he or she is swimming underwater with fins on

Killer Whale

Also known as an Orca, a black and white predatory whale characterized by a blunt snout, high black dorsal fin, white patch behind and black above the eye with contrasting white under parts that feeds on large fish, squid, dolphins, seals, and other larger marine creatures

Kilo (Kg)

A metric measure of weight, also known as the kilogram; 2.2 kg = 1 pound

Kilowatt

A measure of electrical energy consisting of 1,000 watts which is equal to one and one-third horsepower

Kinetic Energy

Energy possessed by a body by virtue of it being in motion

Knot

Unit of speed that equals one nautical mile; 6,080.20 feet per hour; 1.151 miles per hour

KWH

Abbreviation for Kilowatt-hour; a unit of energy that is equal to one kilowatt of power expended for one hour of time

L

L.C.

Low Compression

Lagoon

A shallow body of water, usually with a shallow restricted outlet to the sea

Land Breeze

A breeze blowing towards the sea from the direction of the land 

Landlocked

Almost or entirely enclosed by land

Landward

Facing toward the land

Laryngospasm

Reflex closure the larynx which blocks the airway passage to the lungs

Larynx

Also known as the voice box; a hollow muscular organ, that holds the vocal cords in humans and other mammals, and forms an airway passage to the lungs

Latent Hypoxia

Also known as a deep water blackout, a sudden loss of consciousness from cerebral hypoxia which often occurs when a diver ascends to the surface after a breath-hold dive or a deep freedive

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