SDI Open Water Scuba Diver Practice Exam 2025 - Free Scuba Diver Practice Questions and Study Guide

The best practice for preventing runaway buoyancy is to regularly check and maintain your buoyancy control device (BCD). A BCD is an essential piece of equipment for divers, allowing for precise control of buoyancy when ascending, descending, or hovering underwater. Keeping your BCD in good working condition ensures that it functions properly, which is critical for managing buoyancy effectively.

Regular maintenance like inspecting for leaks, ensuring that the inflator and deflator mechanisms are functioning, and checking all straps and fittings will help prevent any unexpected buoyancy changes. This proactive approach means divers can respond to situations promptly and avoid problems associated with uncontrolled buoyancy, such as rapid ascents or descents that can lead to serious safety issues.

The other options do not provide effective prevention against runaway buoyancy. Relying solely on a wetsuit fails to offer sufficient control because wetsuits have a passive buoyancy, which changes with depth and may not provide the necessary adjustments. Floating at the surface while waiting for assistance does not address the immediate need to control buoyancy during a dive. Using heavy weights to sink can lead to over-weighting, which can be dangerous and does not promote good buoyancy control practices. The primary responsibility for buoyancy management lies in the effective use