SDI Open Water Scuba Diver Practice Exam

If your buoyancy is under control, how should you be able to hover?

1. By not kicking or moving

2. By constantly kicking your legs

3. By holding your breath tightly

4. By exhaling forcefully

The correct answer is: By not kicking or moving

To hover effectively while scuba diving, having control of your buoyancy is pivotal. When your buoyancy is well managed, you should be able to adjust your position in the water column by making minor changes to your body's air volume. Hovering without kicking or moving allows you to maintain a stable position in the water without creating unnecessary disturbances. Movement can lead to unintentional buoyancy changes, which may cause you to ascend or descend. By remaining still and relying on your controlled buoyancy, you can stay suspended in the water effortlessly. Other techniques mentioned, such as constantly kicking your legs, can disrupt your balance and lead to energy expenditure without achieving true hover. Similarly, holding your breath tightly or exhaling forcefully could affect your buoyancy negatively, impacting your ability to remain stable in the water. Therefore, the ability to hover with control comes from a steady state of buoyancy management, allowing you to remain still and balanced within the water column.