STARS Open Water Diver Manual

Index

Orientation
Transform into a Fish on Your Holidays
Certificate of Fitness for Diving
Certification Card (C-Card)
 
Dive Equipment
Mask
Snorkel
Fins
Gloves/Boots
Diving suits
Weights
Tank
Regulator
Backup Scuba
BC
Gauge
Other Equipment 1
Other Equipment 2
Other Equipment 3
Equipment Setup
Equipment Maintenance
 
Underwater Environment
Topography and Artificial Structures 1
Topography and Artificial Structures 2
Ocean Conditions 1
Ocean Conditions 2
Poisonous Sea Life 1
Poisonous Sea Life 2
Aggressive Sea Life
 
Underwater Physiology
Light and Color
Sound
Drag/Buoyancy
Heat Absorption
Air Composition
Breathing and Circulation Mechanism
Diver Breathing /Air Consumption
Pressure
Pressure and Gas Volume
Lung Over-expansion Injury
Air Embolism
Gas Poisoning
Hyperventilation
Skip Breathing
Decompression Sickness (DCS)
The Human Body’s Air Spaces
Squeeze and Equalization
Specific Squeeze Types
Reverse Block and Equalization
Specific Body Air Cavities and Reverse Block
 
Plan and Rules
Diving Site Selection
Leader and Member
Buddy System
Equipment
Health Maintenance
Refresher Course
Cancellation and Modification
Emergency Plan
Communication
Air Consumption Ratio
Dive Table
Change of the internal nitrogen quantity
Comparison of the internal nitrogen quantity
Constitution of the Dive Table
No-decompression Dive Limit
Residual Group
Surfacing Time
Nitrogen Disappearance Time
Surface Interval Time
No-decompression Dive Limit for the second diving
Residual Nitrogen Time
Residual Group for the second diving
Decompression Stop
Safety Stop
Time Until Safe To Fly
Other attention
Work Sheet
Making a Dive Plan
Multi-Level Diving
Manners
 
Diving Skills
Donning Snorkel Set
Snorkel Clear
Fin Work
Donning the Weight Belt
Head First
Equipment Setup
Entry
Descent
Regulator Clear
Mask Clear
Regulator Recovery
Buoyancy Control
BC Donning and Removal
Weight Belt Donning and Removal
Equipment Release
Dealing with Emergencies 1
Dealing with Emergencies 2
Dealing with Emergencies 3

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The Human Body’s Air Spaces


In and around our bodies, there are many air spaces:



■Ear

Our external ear is separated by the eardrum in the middle ear from our inner ear. While we hear by way of our middle ear’s three ossicles, this tympanic cavity is not in direct contact with the atmosphere outside. Rather, the usually collapsed Eustachian tube connects from the chamber of the middle ear to the back of the pharynx. It is in our inner ear that we have our sense of hearing and sense of balance, by way of the connection of the cochlea to our brain.





■Sinus Cavity

The sinus cavity consists of four, paired sites of air spaces on the skull in the region of our eyes, nose and cheeks. Sinuses are joined to the nasal cavity via small orifices called ostia.

These become blocked relatively easily by colds and allergic inflammation, causing sinusitis.

For divers, this can present a problem with pain due to unequal pressure ear equalization.



■Lungs

In the lungs there exist numerous air spaces called alveoli. Breathing occurs as long as the flow of air to and from the alveoli via the trachea is uninterrupted.




■Other

Since dry suits are designed to keep water out, they form an air space around the body.




Dental care, such as fillings, can create spaces in teeth.


The wearing of a dive mask creates an artificial air space between mask and face.

Indigestion and drinking of carbonated drinks can create gas in the gastrointestinal system.


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