Let’s be real, the world of scuba diving loves a good acronym. From your very first course, you’ll get hit with a tidal wave of mysterious letters! Heck, even SCUBA is an acronym, it stands for Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus! Below is your go-to cheat sheet for cracking the scuba code!
Dive Terms You’ll Hear on the Daily:
• ABT : Actual Bottom Time
The total time you're underwater, from descent to the moment you start heading back up.
• ADT : Actual Dive Time
This refers to the total time underwater, from when you start your descent until you surface at the end of the dive.
• DAN : Divers Alert Network
A must-know for every diver. It’s a non-profit that focuses on diver safety, offering loads of resources, dive-related injury support, and even affordable dive accident insurance. Whether you're just starting out or an experienced diver, DAN’s got your back!
• DCS : Decompression Sickness
The bends! DCS happens when you ascend too fast, causing nitrogen bubbles to form in your tissues. It’s a serious issue we definitely want to avoid, so always take it slow on your ascent and do your safety stops!
• DCI : Decompression Illness
The umbrella term for both decompression sickness (the bends) and lung overexpansion injury. Basically, it’s what we want to avoid at all costs.
• EAN(x) : Enriched Air Nitrox
A fancy blend of oxygen and nitrogen. The ‘x’ = % of oxygen. So EAN36 = 36% O₂. More O₂ = less nitrogen = longer bottom times. Win!
• GF : Gradient Factor
Techy stuff. It’s about how your body absorbs and releases nitrogen. Some dive computers let you tweak these settings for more (or less) conservatism.
• MOD : Maximum Operating Depth
The deepest you can safely go with a specific gas mix — go beyond this and oxygen toxicity becomes a risk. Essential for Nitrox divers.
• NDL : No Decompression Limit
How long you can stay at depth before you’re required to do a deco stop. Recreational divers stick within this limit (but still do a safety stop for good measure).
• RNT : Residual Nitrogen Time
The leftover nitrogen from a previous dive that affects your next dive plan. Old school divers calculate this with tables — most of us just let our computers handle it.
• SAC : Surface Air Consumption
How much air you use at the surface, per minute. It helps you plan your dives and manage your gas better.
• SI(T) : Surface Interval (Time)
Time spent topside between dives to let your body off-gas nitrogen. Chill time, snack time, logbook time.
• TTS : Time To Surface
Some dive computers display this, it’s your total ascent time including any required deco or safety stops.
Dive Gear Acronyms:
• BCD : Buoyancy Control Device
The vest that lets you float, sink, or hover. Your underwater bestie.
• CCR : Closed Circuit Rebreather
Recycles your exhaled air = super quiet = no bubbles = James Bond vibes.
• DIN : Deutsche Institut für Normung
A regulator fitting type. DIN vs yoke -different styles, same job.
• (D)SMB : (Delayed) Surface Marker Buoy
Bright, long tube you inflate to show boats where you are. DSMB = from underwater. SMB = from the surface.
• HP / LP : High Pressure / Low Pressure
Used for hoses and regulator ports. HP = for gauges. LP = for your BCD and second stages.
• LPI : Low Pressure Inflator
The hose that connects your BCD to your tank, letting you add air with a push.
• SPG : Submersible Pressure Gauge
Tells you how much gas you’ve got left in your tank. Metric = BAR. Imperial = PSI (aka pounds per square inch).
Training Acronyms You’ll Learn in Your Courses:
• BWRAF: BCD ~ Weights ~ Releases ~ Air ~ Final OK
The classic buddy check before every dive.
Some fun ways to remember it:
- Begin With Review And Friend (PADI-approved)
- Bruce Willis Rules All Films
- Barf Will Really Attract Fish
Got a better one? Make it your own!
• CESA : Controlled Emergency Swimming Ascent
Out of air? No buddy nearby? Time to ascend, exhaling all the way while kicking up, and making a long “ahhhhhh” sound to avoid lung overexpansion.
• SORTED : Signal ~ Orientate ~ Regulator ~ Time ~ Elevate ~ Descend
The 5-point descent checklist. Make sure you’re good to go before heading down into the blue.
• STELA : Signal ~ Time ~ Elevate ~ Look & Listen ~ Ascend
The 5-point ascent. Stay safe and stylish on your way to the surface.
Course & Certification Acronyms:
• OWD / OWC : Open Water Diver / Course
Your first step into the diving world. Dive to 18m with a buddy once you’re certified.
• AOWD / AOWC : Advanced Open Water Diver / Course
Five adventure dives = more skills + more fun. You’ll be certified to dive down to 30m.
• RD : Rescue Diver
Learn to handle problems underwater and on the surface. Challenging, but oh-so-rewarding.
• EFR : Emergency First Response
First aid course with CPR and emergency care, a must for Rescue Diver certification.
• DM(T/C) : Divemaster (Trainee/Candidate)
Your entry into the pro dive world. You’ll assist instructors, lead dives, and become everyone’s favourite dive guru.
• IDC : Instructor Development Course
This is where dive pros go to become instructors. Taught by Course Directors only.
• IE : Instructor Exam
Complete the IDC, then ace this 2-day exam to become a fully certified PADI Instructor!
• DSD : Discover Scuba Diving
A taste of the diving life with no commitment. Perfect for trying it out before doing a full course.
• PADI : Professional Association of Diving Instructors
Not just a name, it’s an acronym!
Ready to flex those acronym muscles? Keep this list handy and you’ll go from confused to confident faster than you can say “BWRAF!”
