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Adrenaline
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A hormone secreted by the adrenal gland into the circulatory system which stimulates the heart, blood vessels and respiratory system.
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Air
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A gas mixture containing 21% oxygen, 78% nitrogen, and 1% other gasses (mainly argon); compressed air is used for recreational scuba diving.
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Air compressor
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A machine that compresses or pressurizes air; for scuba purposes, air is compressed from the atmospheric level (14.7 psi at sea level) to the capacity of the tank, usually between 2500-3000 psi.
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Air embolism
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A condition that occurs when air enters the bloodstream through ruptured alveoli into the pulmonary capillaries. The air in the bloodstream then forms bubbles, which can block blood flow to the body's tissues.
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Air pressure
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The force per unit area exerted by the weight of air; at sea level the air pressure is 14.7 psi. (air pressure decreases with altitude.)
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Algorithm
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A set of equations incorporated into diving computers in order to compute nitrogen uptake and elimination from changes in depth and elapsed time.
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Alpha flag
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an International maritime signal flag, meaning, 'Diver down, keep clear'.
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Alternate air source
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A device a diver can use in place of the primary regulator, in order to make an ascent while still breathing normally.
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Alternoberic Vertigo
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Un-even release of pressure from the inner ear. Causing vertigo, dizziness and spins.
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altitude sickness
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An illness brought on by the sudden reduction in pressure of ascent to altitude.
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Ambient Light
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It is the available sunlight underwater used as a source of illumination.
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Ambient pressure
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The surrounding pressure; on land, comes from the weight of the atmosphere (see air pressure), at depth, comes from the weight of the water plus the weight of the atmosphere. One atmospere is about 14.7 pounds of pressure per square inch.
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Analog instrument
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Device that uses a needle moving around a dial to provide information.
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ANDI
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American Nitrox Divers Incorporated
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Anticoagulants
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Medications that reduce the clotting ability of the blood. Particularly dangerous to divers due to barotrauma of air-filled body cavities.
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Archimedes principle
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Any object wholly or partly immersed in fluid will be buoyed up by a force equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the object.
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Argon
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An inert gas that makes up less than one percent of air (sometimes used as a dry suit gas).
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Arrhythmias
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Irregularities in the rhythm and rate of the heart, particularly dangerous to divers due to the underwater environment.
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Arterial gas embolism
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The condition characterized by bubble(s) of air from a ruptured lung segment under pressure; the bubbles enter the pulmonary circulation and travel to the arterial circulation, where they may cause a stroke.
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Artificial Respiration
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any means by which an alternating increase and decrease in chest volume is artificially created while maintaining an open airway in mouth and nose passages; mouth to mouth, mouth to nose and mouth to snorkel resuscitation are examples.
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Artificial Spit
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Small bottles of "special" liquid used by divers to keep their masks defogged. There are many diffrent manufactures that offer a gel, paste or spray.
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Ascent Bottle
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An extra cylinder of air used on deep dives to allow decompression stops without fear of running out of air. They come in many different sizes from 6 c.f. to a full 80 c.f. tank.
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Ascent Bottle
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An extra cylinder of air used on deep dives to allow decompression stops without fear of running out of air.
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Ascent/Decent line
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Line suspended from a boat or a buoy for a diver to use to control their rate of ascent or descent.
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Asthma
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A common condition manifested by narrowing of air passages within the lungs. One reason for the narrowing is excess mucous in the airway.
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ATA
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Atmosphere absolute; 1 ata is the atmospheric pressure at sea level; is measured with a barometer.
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Atmosphere
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The blanket of air surrounding the earth, from sea level to outer space. Also, a unit of pressure; "one atmospheres is pressure of the atmosphere at sea level, I.e., 760 mm Hg. Two atmosphere is twice this pressure, 1520 mm Hg, etc. Abbreviated atm.
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Atmosphere Absolute
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The ambient pressure including the air column over the water. The air column = 1 atm. at sea level. In sea water, another atmosphere is added each 33 FSW (Feet of Sea Water) . There is an increase in pressure per foot of sea water equivalent to 1/33 or .03030303 . So ATA may be calculated by multiplying the depth (FSW) by .0303030 and then adding 1 for the air above the water. i.e. the ATA at 46 FSW = (46 * .0303030) + 1 = 2.3939 ATA. to convert ATA to FSW. ATA - 1 * 33 = FSW.
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Atmospheric pressure
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Pressure of the atmosphere at a given altitude or location.
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AUF
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Australian Underwater Federation
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AWARE
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Aquatic World Awareness, Responsibility and Education. A PADI nonprofit environmental foundation that provides financial support for aquatic preservation endeavors, develops conservation-oriented educational materials and initiates public awareness campaigns.
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Axial flow scrubber
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An axial scrubber is a scrubber design in which the breathing gases move from top to bottom (or vise-versa) through the scrubber.
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