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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.

T

Torr

Named after Evangelista Torricelli, a unit of pressure that is equal to 1/760 of an standard atmosphere or 133.3 pascals

Total Bottom Time (TBT)

Used to determine a group designation after a repetitive dive, the sum of the residual nitrogen time (RNT) and the actual bottom time (ABT)

Total Dive Time (TDT)

The total duration of a dive, from the start of the descent until the diver reaches the surface after completing the dive

Toxic

Poisonous

Trachea

Also known as windpipe, a large tube that extends from the larynx to the bronchial tubes, supplying air to the lungs

Tracheobronchial

Relating into the trachea, bronchi, and bronchioles which form the airways that supply the lungs with air

Tracheostomy

A surgical opening in the trachea or windpipe in which a tube is inserted to provide an effective airway to help an individual breathe and to remove secretions from the lungs

Trauma

An injury or shock to the body resulting from an accident or violence which may have long-lasting effects

Trimix

A breathing gas that contains a mixture of helium, nitrogen and oxygen which is used for deep diving 

U

UHF

Ultra High Frequencies

Ulcer

An open lesion on an internal or external surface of the body often caused by a break in the skin or mucous membrane 

Undertow

A current beneath the surface of the ocean that moves in a direction opposite to that of the surface current

Underwater Photography

A popular hobby among divers that requires the use of special underwater equipment that enables one to take photographs of marine life and various structures found beneath the sea

URV

Undersea Research Vehicle

USN

United States Navy

V

Vaccine

A substance that is inserted into the body that is used to prevent one or more diseases by stimulating the production of antibodies

Valsalva Maneuver

An action which forces the inflation of the middle ear by exhaling with the mouth and nose closed 

Valve

A device that starts, stops or regulates the flow of mixed gases or air in scuba diving equipment

Vapor Pressure

Also known as equilibrium vapor pressure, the pressure exerted by a vapor in equilibrium with its solid or liquid phases at a certain temperature in a closed system

Vascular

Pertains to or composed of vessels that carry blood

Vascular System

Blood vessels and tissues responsible for circulating fluids throughout the body of a plant or animal

Vasoconstriction

The constriction of the blood vessels, by a nerve or drug, which subsequently increases blood pressure 

Vasodilation

An increase in the diameter of blood vessels which subsequently decreases blood pressure

Vasomotor

Regulation of the size of blood vessels as a result of constriction or dilation procedures

Velocimeter

Using the Doppler effect, a device that measures the speed of sound in water

Vena Cava

Either of the two large veins that drain blood from the upper and lower body and discharge it into the right atrium of the heart

Venomous

Animals that have a gland or glands for secreting venom and are capable of injecting this venom by means of a bite, sting or wound

Venous Gas Emboli

Inert gas bubbles in the venous blood that returns to the heart and lungs 

Venules

Small vessels which collect blood from the capillaries and join to form veins

Vertebrate

An animal characterized by having a backbone or spinal column including mammals, reptiles, birds, amphibians and more 

Vertigo

Disorientation and dizziness that occurs as a result of an inner ear imbalance

Vessel

Also known as a boat or ship; a craft that is utilized for traveling on the water

Vest

Also known as a buoyancy compensator or BC, a piece of scuba equipment that is designed to help with buoyancy control

Vestibular Bends

Decompression sickness (DCS) that involves the inner ear

Vestibular System

The sensory mechanisms of the inner ear which are concerned with equilibrium

Vestibule

Any space that serves as an entrance or passage way to another location

Viewport

The observation window in submersible chamber or spacecraft

VIP

Abbreviation for visual inspection program; a program in which a highly trained equipment technician performs an annual visual tank inspection to look for any potential problems

Vis

Scuba diving slang for visibility

Viscera

Also known as intestines, the soft internal organs that occupy the three large body cavities

Visceral

Pertaining to soft internal organs, specifically those within the abdominal and thoracic cavities

Visibility

The distance a diver can see underwater which is often determined by light and weather conditions

Visual Acuity

Sharpness of vision often measured by the ability of the eye to see or resolve fine details as tested with a Snellen chart

Volatility

The tendency of fluid to evaporate rapidly at normal temperatures or pressures into the form of a vapor

Voltmeter

An instrument that measures the difference in voltage between two points of an electric circuit

Volume

The space a substance or object occupies; measured in cubic units

Vortex

A whirling mass of liquid or air such as a whirlpool or whirlwind

W

Wall Diving

An underwater activity a diver engages in as he or she dives along the face of a vertical cliff or wall

Watt

An SI unit of electrical power named after James Watt, the energy consumption rate of one joule per second

Wave

An oscillatory movement which occurs in a body of water that results in the alternating rise and fall of the surface

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