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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.

R

Recompression Chamber

A pressure vessel which is used to treat divers suffering from certain diving disorders such as decompression sickness (DCS)

Recovery

In the sport of scuba diving, to retrieve an object from a body of water

Red Blood Cell

A mature blood cell that possesses hemoglobin which carries oxygen to the body’s tissues

Red Tide

The growth of toxic red dinoflagellates in a body of water resulting in discoloration of the seawater and the loss of marine life

Reef

A ridge of rocky outcroppings, sand or coral occurring just above or below the surface of the sea

Regulator

A device used to regulate the pressure inside a high pressure air cylinder and deliver gas to a diver at breathable ambient pressure 

Relative Humidity

A ratio, expressed in percent, of the amount of water vapor present in the air relative to the amount needed for saturation at the same temperature

Repetitive Dive

Any dive that occurs, often on the same day with or without a surface interval, before the nitrogen off-gassing process has completed 

Residual Nitrogen

Nitrogen that remains dissolved in the tissues of a diver after he or she surfaces from a dive

Respiration

The exchange of gases between a living organism without lungs, such as a fish, and its environment; the action of breathing

Respiratory Arrest

Cessation of breathing due to a failure of the lungs to contract effectively

Respiratory Rate

The rate at which an individual breathes

Retina

The nerve layer coating the back of the eyeball which senses light and creates and sends impulses to the brain through the optic nerve

Reverse Block

A diver’s inability to clear his ears or sinuses during ascent

Reverse Squeeze

Pain or discomfort, typically in the sinuses or middle ear, that is often experienced upon ascent from a dive

Rhinitis

Inflammation that occurs to the mucous membrane of the nose

RIB

Rigid-hull inflatable boat

Ribs

Bone and cartilage that form the thoracic cavity, protecting the internal organs

Rip Current

Also called a rip tide, a strong, fast moving surface current that runs perpendicular to the shore

Ripples

Very small, gentle waves on the surface of the water

Roentgenogram

A photograph made with x-rays

Rotary

Turning on an axis

RPM

Revolutions per minute

Rupture

An instance of breaking apart or bursting under unequalized pressure

S

SAA

Sub-Aqua Association

Safety Stop

A safety measure that divers take while underwater to decrease the risk of decompression sickness after surfacing from a dive

Safety Switch

Any fastening device that releases easily when operated with one hand

Salinity

Describes the concentration of salt in water; expressed in permille (parts per thousand)   

Salvage

The act of rescuing a wrecked or disabled ship or its cargo

Sand Bar

A ridge or bar of sand formed by the action of waves or currents

Sand Shoot

A sloping hill of sand that separates two coral structures

Sawfish

A marine fish belonging to the genus Pristis that has a blade-like snout with sharp teeth along both sides which can be a hazardous to divers

SCAL

Skin-diver contact air lens

SCFH

Standard cubic feet per hour

SCFM

Standard cubic feet per minute at maximum working pressure

Sciatica

A form of neuritis characterized by severe pain along the sciatic nerve and its branches affecting the back, hip, and outer side of the leg

Scoliosis

An abnormal lateral curvature of the spine, usually more than 10 degrees to the left or right as the examiner faces the patient

Scorpion Fish

A marine fish, belonging to the Scorpaenidae family, which has a tapering body with poisonous spines in their dorsal fin 

SCUBA

Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus

Scuba Cylinder

Also known as a diving cylinder, scuba tank or diving tank; a gas cylinder which is used to store and transport high pressure breathing gas as a component of SCUBA gear

SDI

Scuba Diving International is a scuba diving training and certification agency.  Launched in 1999, SDI is the recreational arm of Technical Diving International (TDI)

Sea

Covering seventy percent of the Earth’s surface, the sea is the connected body of salt water that is vital to moderating the climate on Earth, providing food and oxygen to all living things, and for navigation

Sea Anchor

Also known as a drift anchor or boat anchor, a device thrown over the side of a boat which is used to stabilize it

Sea Anemone

A sedentary marine animal, belonging to the Anthozoa class, with a flexible cylindrical body and stinging tentacles surrounding its mouth

Sea Breeze

A cool breeze that blows from the sea towards the land

Sea Floor

The bottom of the sea or ocean where there is a generally a smooth, gentle gradient

Sea Level

The level of the ocean’s surface, specifically the level midway between mean high and low tide

Sea Level Pressure

Atmospheric pressure or barometric pressure reduced by a formula to a value representing the pressure at sea level

Sea Snake

A venomous marine snake, belonging to the Elapidae family, that lives in the Indian and Pacific oceans

Seasickness

Motion sickness experienced when traveling on water often resulting from the pitching and rolling of a boat or vessel; symptoms include dizziness, nausea, and occasional vomiting

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