SDI Open Water Scuba Diver Practice Exam

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Prepare for the SDI Open Water Scuba Diver Exam with insightful flashcards and challenging multiple-choice questions. Enhance your readiness for the underwater adventure!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

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What should you do if you feel light-headed while diving?

Ignore it as it's part of diving
Immediately ascend to the surface
Slowly ascend while attempting to relax
Signal to your buddy for assistance

The correct answer is: Slowly ascend while attempting to relax

Feeling light-headed while diving can be a sign of several potentially serious issues, such as dehydration, hyperventilation, or a reduction in blood circulation. In such situations, it’s crucial to maintain control and not to make sudden movements or decisions. The best practice is to slowly ascend while attempting to relax. This approach helps mitigate the risk of further complications that could arise from a rapid ascent. By ascending slowly, you reduce the chance of developing decompression sickness while allowing your body time to adjust to the changing pressure. Simultaneously, relaxing can help slow your heart rate and breathing, which may alleviate the light-headed sensation. The other options do not promote safety. Ignoring the symptom could lead to worsening conditions. An immediate ascent might not diagnose the issue, plus it can increase the risk of injury or decompression sickness. While signaling for assistance is a good practice if you require help, it should ideally be done in conjunction with a controlled ascent to ensure safety for both you and your dive buddy.