PADI Open Water Chapter 3

Chapter Three is divided into seven sections:

1. The Dive Environment
2. Dive Planning
3. Boat Diving
4. Problem Management
5. Confined Water Dive Preview
6. General Open Water Skills
7. Open Water Dives 1 & 2

Here are Summary Points from Chapter Three on The Dive Environment:
* Temperature, visibility, water movement, bottom composition, aquatic life and sunlight affect dive conditions.
* A thermocline is an abrupt transition to colder water.
* Plan your dive accounting for the water temperature at your planned depth.
* When possible, use a visual reference for descending and ascending.
* When diving with a current present, HEAD INTO the current during the dive.
* IF caught in a current, DO NOT fight it. Swim ACROSS the current, OR establish buoyancy and signal for assistance.
* AVOID bottom contact by staying neutrally buoyant.
* MOST aquatic life injuries RESULT from carelessness - watch where you put your habds, feet and knees
* Wear gloves and an exposure suit to reduce likelihood of aquatic life stings and cuts.
* Sunburn IS entirely avoidable.
* Surf diving requires special training and techniques.
* IF you get caught in a RIP CURRENT, swim PARALLEL TO SHORE until you're out of it.

Here are Summary Points from Chapter Three on Dive Planning and Boat Diving:
* Planning your dive plans your fun.
* A dive plan doesn't have to be complex, nor take a lot of time, nor be inflexible, BUT you do NEED to follow it.
* Boat diving has many benefits that make it popular.
* Inspect and pack gear appropriately before a boat dive.
* Different parts and areas on a boat have nautical terms you should know.
* Be careful when moving around on a rolling boat with your gear on.
* Listen to crew briefings about procedures, where to enter and exit water, and other techniques and emergency considerations.
* Don't get under another divers who's climbing the boat ladder.
* You may choose to avoid seasickness by taking seasickness medication.

Here are Summary Points from Chapter Three on Problem Management:
* MOST problems occur at the SURFACE.
* You PREVENT most problems by staying relaxed and diving within your limits.
* If you have a problem at the surface, ESTABLISH positive buoyancy and call for help IF you NEED it.
* A diver with a problem who is IN CONTROL tends to respond to instructions, and to establish buoyancy
* A PANICKED DIVER tends to spit out the regulator, push off the mask and to not establish buoyancy.
* When assisting another diver, establish buoyancy, calm the diver, help the diver reestablish breathing control, and IF necessary help the diver back to the boat or shore.
* IF you watch your SPG, it's HIGHLY UNLIKELY you'll run out of air.
* Using an alternate air source is your BEST all-around option when you're out of air.
* You can breathe from a free-flowing regulator by NOT sealing your lips on the mouthpiece.
* Entanglement is not a big deal IF you react calmly and carefully7 untangle yourself.
* Bring an unresponsive diver IMMEDIATELY to the SURFACE, CHECK for BREATHING & PULSE, and BEGIN RESCUE BREATHING and /or CPR as NECESSARY.
* Ask for help when you NEED it.

Confined Water Dive Three Skill Requirements:

1. Independently establish neutral buoyancy under water by pivoting on the fin tips, or, when appropriate, another point of contact (both oral and low-pressure inflation).
2. Swim at least 10metres/yards underwater while maintaining neutral buoyancy.
3. Demonstrate the cramp removal technique.
4. At the surface in water too deep to stand in, perform a tired diver tow for 25 metres/yards.
5. React to air depletion by signaling out of air, then securing and breathing from an alternate air source supplied by a buddy for at least ONE MINUTE while swimming UNDERWATER.
6. Breathe effectively from a free-flowing regulator for NOT LESS THAN 30 SECONDS.
7. Stimulate a controlled emergency swimming ascent by swimming HORIZONTALLY UNDERWATER for AT LEAST 9 metres/30 feet while continuously exhaling by emitting a continuous sound.