Abbreviations BSAC style (alphabetical)
These pages are provided by the Dive Instruct group as a guide to the abbreviations and terminology, used in diving and diving forums, purely as a guide.
It is not complete, and indeed never could be, as terminology changes and is added to all the time.
If you know of an abbreviation that is missing or incorrect, please email us here and we will update or make appropriate changes as soon as possible.
No responsibility is taken for any inaccuracies, although every care has been taken to make sure that the information is correct.
The terms are laid out in alphabetical order and will eventually contain links, where appropriate, to specific sites, for more information.
The terms will also eventually be explained further as necessary. These explanations will be laid out in other pages which can be reached by clicking on the links (to be added at a later date), specific organization's web sites will also be reached by clicking direct on the underlined name in the list. If you see a broken or incorrect link, or a link to a page that is no longer available, please email us by going here.
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| AA | Assisted Ascent |
| AAS | Alternative Air Source |
| ABC | Airway, Breathing, Circulation (casualty assessment) |
| ABT | Actual Bottom Time |
| ABLJ | Adjustable Buoyancy Life Jacket |
| ABI | Approved Boathandling Instructor (BSAC) |
| ACI | Assistant Club Instructor (BSAC) |
| ACUC | American Canadian Underwater Certification |
| AD | Advanced Diver (BSAC) |
| AD | Adventure Diver (PADI) |
| AED | Automatic Emergency Defibrillator See also PAD |
| AI | Assistant Instructor (PADI) |
| AI | Advanced Instructor (BSAC) |
| AIC | Advanced Instructor Course (BSAC) |
| AIE | Advanced Instructor Exam (BSAC) |
| AISE | Association of Independent Scuba Educators |
| AIW | Advanced Instructor Workshop |
| A |
Advanced Nitrox Diver |
| A |
American Nitrox Divers International |
| AOW | Advanced Open Water (PADI) |
| AP | Ambient Pressure |
| AR | Ascent Rate |
| ASDA | Advanced Scuba Diving Association |
| ATA | Atmospheres Absolute |
| ATM | Atmosphere |
| AV | Artificial Ventilation |
| AVPU | Alert, Voice, Pain, Unresponsive (simplified consciousness assessment) |
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| BA | Breathing Apparatus |
| BAR | Buoyancy Air Releases (BSAC) |
| BARF | Buoyancy, Air, Releases, Fins |
| BARZ | Buoyancy Air Releases ZIPS! (Drysuits) |
| BC | Buoyancy Control |
| BCD | Buoyancy Control Device |
| BDO | Branch Diving Officer |
| BH | Boat Handling (BSAC) |
| BHA | British Hyperbaric Association |
| BMA | British Medical Association |
| BMJ | British Medical Journal |
| BP | Backplate, also Blood Pressure |
| BPM | Beats Per Minute (heart/pulse rate) |
| BW | Backplate and Wing |
| BRA | Buoyancy Releases Air |
| BS | British Standard |
| BSI | British Standards Institute |
| BSAC | British Sub Aqua Club |
| BSOUP | British Society Of Underwater Photographers |
| BT | Bottom Time |
| BWRAF | Begin, With, Review And Friend. (PADI) |
| BWRAF | Buoyancy Weights Releases Air Final OK (PADI) |
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| CADC | Canadian Association of Diving Contractors |
| CAGE | Cerebral Arterial Gas Embolism |
| CBL | Controlled Buoyant Lift |
| CBPDS | Conf. Brasileanos de Pesca e Desportos Subaquaticos |
| CC | Cardiac Compressions |
| CCCM | Closed Chest Cardiac Massage.... superceded by ECM, and eventually CC |
| CCR | Closed Circuit Rebreather |
| CD | Club Diver (BSAC) |
| CD | Course Director (PADI, NAUI) |
| CDAA | Cave Divers Association of Australia |
| CDG-GB | Cave Diving Group of Great Britain |
| CEDIP | European Committee of Professional Diving Instructors |
| CEN | Comiteé Européenne de Normalization (The European Committee for Standardisation) |
| CESA | Controlled Emergency Swimming Ascent |
| CI | Club Instructor (BSAC) |
| CIE | Club Instructor Exam (BSAC) |
| CIPP | Compagnie des Instructeurs Professionnels de Plongee |
| CMAS | Confederation Mondiale des Activities Subaquatiques (World Underwater Federation) |
| CNS | Central Nervous System |
| CO | Carbon Monoxide |
| CO | Cardiac Output |
| CO2 | Carbon Dioxide |
| CPF | Chartwork & Position Fixing |
| CPR | Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation |
| CQR | Security Patent Anchor |
| CTC | Current Tissue Code |
| CTC | Canadian Transportation Commission |
| CWDI | Canadian Working Divers Institute |
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| DAN | Diver's Alert Network |
| DCI | Decompression Illness |
| DCIEM | Defence and Civil Institute of Environmental Medicine(Canadian tables) |
| DC or DCC | Decompression Computer |
| DCS | Decompression Sickness |
| DCS | Dive Control Specialist (SSI) |
| DDC | Deck Decompression Chamber (offshore professional diving) |
| DDEMS | Defence Diver Extended Medical Skills (British Forces Qualification) |
| DDRC | Diving Diseases Research Centre |
| DEMA | Diving Equipment and Marketing Association |
| DER | Depth Experience Record |
| DIN | Deutsches Institut für Normung e.V. (German Institute for Standardization) |
| DL | Dive Leader (BSAC) |
| DM | Divemaster (PADI) |
| DM | Dive Marshal (BSAC) |
| DO | Diving Officer |
| DOD | Department of Defense (US) |
| DOT | Department of Transportation |
| DOWR81 | Diving Operations at Work Regulations 1981 (superceded by DWR97) |
| DPM | Dive Planning & Marshalling |
| DPV | Diver Propulsion Vehicle |
| DRABC | Danger, Response, Airway, Breathing, Circulation (casualty assessment) |
| DRI | Dive Rescue International |
| DS | Decompression Sickness (s. also DCS) |
| DSAT | Diving Science and Technology(PADI) |
| DSC | Digital Selective Calling |
| DSF | Dansk Sportsdykker Forbund (Danish Sport Diving Federation) |
| DSMB | Delayed Surface Marker Buoy |
| DT | Dive Time |
| DTR | Digital Time Recorder |
| DUI | Divers Unlimited International |
| DV | Demand Valve |
| DWR97 | Diving at Work Regulations 1997 (UK legislation) |
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| EAD | Equivalent Air Depth, or Effective Air Depth |
| EAR | Expired Air Resuscitation.... superceded by AV |
| EANx | Enriched Air Nitrox |
| ECM | External Cardiac Massage (term superceded by CC) |
| E |
Equivalent Narcotic Depth |
| EO | Equipment Officer |
| EPIRB | Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon |
| ERC | European Resuscitation Council |
| ERD | Extended Range Diver (BSAC) |
| ESDA | Emergency Services Diving Association |
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| FAD | First Aid for Divers |
| FCD | First Class Diver (BSAC) |
| FCD | Freeflow Control Device |
| FEDAS | Federacion Espanola De Actividades Subacuaticas |
| FEV(1) | Forced Expiratory Volume (in one second) |
| FFESSM | Fédération Française d'Etudes et de Sports Sous Marin |
| FSSS | Fédération Suisse de Sports Subaquatique |
| FQAS | Fédération Québecoise des Activites Subaquatiques |
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| GMDSS | Global Maritime Distress and Safety System |
| GPS | Global Positioning System |
| GUE | Global Underwater Explorers |
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| H | Hydrogen |
| HID | High Intensity Discharge |
| HDS | Historical Diving Society |
| HE | Helium |
| HMCG | Her Majesty's Coast Guard |
| HOAL | Home Office Aluminium |
| HOS | Home Office Steel |
| HOT | Home Office Tested |
| HSA | Handicapped Scuba Association |
| HSC | Health and Safety Commission (UK) |
| HSE | Health & Safety Executive |
| HSW Act or HSWA74 | Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 (UK legislation) |
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| IADRS | International Association of Dive Rescue Specialists |
| IAHD | International Association for Handicapped Divers |
| IANTD | International Association of Nitrox and Technical Divers |
| IDC | Instructor Development Course (PADI) |
| IDEA | International Diving Educators Association |
| IDEST | Inspectorate for Diving Equipment Servicing and Testing |
| IDOT | Israeli Dive Operators and Tourism |
| IOC | Instructor Orientation Course (PADI) |
| IPDS | International Police Diver Symposium |
| ISE | International Scuba Educators |
| ISO | International Standards Organisation |
| ITC | Instructor Training Course (BSAC, PADI, NAUI) |
| ITS | Instructor Training Scheme (BSAC) |
| ITW | Instructor Training Workshop (BSAC) |
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| JAMA | The Journal of the American Medical Association |
| JSSADC | Joint Services Sub Aqua Diving Clubs |
| JULIA | Japan Underwater Leaders and Instructors Association |
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| KISS | Keep It Simple, Stupid! |
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| LIDS | London International Dive Show |
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| MCA | Maritime and Coastguard Agency |
| MCQ | Multiple Choice Questionnaire (also known as Multiple Choice Paper) |
| MCS | Marine Conservation Society |
| MDEA | Multinational Diving Educators Association |
| MFA | Medic First Aid (PADI) |
| MFS | Mask Fin Snorkel |
| MI | Master Instructor (PADI) |
| MMSI | Maritime Mobile Service Identity |
| MRCC | Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre |
| MRSC | Maritime Rescue Sub Centre |
| MSD | Master Scuba Diver (PADI) |
| MSDT | Master Scuba Diver Trainer (PADI) |
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| N2 | Nitrogen |
| NACD | National Association of Cave Divers |
| NAS | Nautical Archaeological Society |
| NASDS | National Association of SCUBA Diving Schools |
| NASE | National Association of Scuba Educators |
| NAUI | National Association of Underwater Instructors |
| NBDHMT | National Board of Diving & Hyperbaric Medical Technology |
| Norwegian Diving Federation | |
| National Diving Officer (BSAC, SAA, CFT) | |
| NE | Neon |
| NEDU | Navy Experimental Diving Unit (US Navy) |
| NELOS | Nederlandstalige liga voor onderwateronderzoek en -sport (Belgium) |
| NEC | National Exhibition Centre |
| NHC | National Hyperbaric Centre (Aberdeen) |
| NI | National Instructor (BSAC) |
| NIADD | National Instructors' Assn for Divers with Disabilities |
| NN | Nitrogen Narcosis |
| NO | Nitrox |
| NOAA | National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration |
| NOB | Nederlandse Onderwatersport Bond |
| NQI | Nationally Qualified Instructor |
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| O2 | Oxygen |
| OA/O2A | Oxygen Administration |
| OAC | Oxygen Administration Course |
| OD | Ocean Diver (BSAC) |
| OMS | Ocean Management Systems |
| OMS | Open Muppet Season |
| OPV | Over Pressure Valve |
| OT | Oxygen Toxicity |
| OWI | Open Water Instructor (BSAC) |
| OWIC | Open Water Instructor Course (BSAC) |
| OWSI | Open Water Scuba Instructor (PADI) |
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| PADI | Professional Association of Diving Instructors |
| PAD | Public Access Defibrillator (American term for AED) |
| PBA | Professional Boatmans Association |
| PDIC | Professional Diving Instructors Corporation |
| PFO | Patent Foramen Ovale |
| PNR | Passenger Name Record |
| PP | Partial Pressure |
| PPP | Planning Preparation Presentation |
| PPPPPP | Perfect Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance |
| PRM | Practical Rescue Management (BSAC) |
| PSA | Professional Scuba Association |
| PSDA | Public Safety Diving Association |
| PSI | Pounds per Square Inch |
| PSI | Professional Scuba Inspectors, Inc |
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| QA | Quality Assurance |
| QRB | Qualification Record Book |
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| RA | Rescue Assessment |
| RAC | Rebreather Awareness Course |
| RDP | Recreational Dive Planner (PADI) |
| REAP | Review Encourage Assess Plan |
| REG | Regulator |
| RES | Rescue Diver (PADI |
| RFA | Rescue First Aid |
| RIB | Rigid hulled Inflatable Boat |
| RhIB | Rigid Hulled Inflatable Boat |
| RLSS | Royal Life Saving Society |
| RMV | Respiratory Minute Volume |
| RNLI | Royal National Lifeboat Institution |
| RNPL | Royal Navy Physiological Laboratory (produced RN decompression tables) |
| RNT | Residual Nitrogen Time |
| ROV | Remotely Operated Vehicle |
| RSTC | Recreational Scuba Training Council |
| RYA | Royal Yachting Association |
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| SAA | Sub Aqua Association |
| SADS | Sub Aqua Diving Supervisor (Joint Services Sub-Aqua Diving Clubs) |
| SALT | Statement of Alternative Level Training |
| SAR | Search and Rescue |
| SBS | Special Boat Service (Royal Navy special forces) |
| SC | Surfacing Code |
| SCR | Semi-closed Circuit Rebreather |
| SCUBA | Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus |
| SEAL | Sea-Air-Land Teams (US Navy special forces) |
| SEEDS | Safety Equipment Exercise Discipline Signals |
| SD | Sports Diver (BSAC, PADI) |
| SDC | Skill Development Course (BSAC) |
| SDCC | Skill Development Course Certificate (BSAC) |
| SDI | SCUBA Diving International |
| SI | Surface Interval |
| SITA | Scuba Industries Trade Association |
| SLJ | Surface Life Jacke |
| SMB | Surface Marker Buoy |
| SNK | Snorkel |
| SOLAS | Safety of Life at Sea (int. maritim norm/convention) |
| SPG | Submersible Pressure Gauge |
| SR | Search & Recovery |
| SSAC | Scottish Sub Aqua Club |
| SSI | Scuba Schools International |
| STA | Scuba Trade Association |
| SUF | Swedish Underwater Federation |
| SUSL | Finnish Sportdivers Association |
| SUSV | Schweizer Unterwasser Sport Verband (Swiss Diving Federation) |
| SWA | Sheltered Water Assessment |
| SWE | Sheltered Water Evaluation |
| SWP | Safe Working Pressure |
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| TBT | Total Bottom Time |
| TD | Technical Diver |
| TDI | Technical Diving International |
| TIDF | The Israeli Diving Federation |
| TLA | Three Letter Acronym |
| TO | Training Officer |
| TP | Test Pressure |
| TPR | Transportable Pressure Receptacle |
| TSM | Technical Support Manager |
| TSVÖ | Tauchsportverband Oesterreichs (Austrian Diving Federation) |
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| UDT | Underwater Demolition Team (US Navy) |
| UHMS | Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society |
| UPTD | Unit Pulmonary Toxic Dose |
| UBA | Underwater Breathing Apparatus |
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| V | Visual (Inspection of air cylinder for test purposes) |
| VDST | Verband deutscher Sporttaucher e.V. (German Sport Diving Club) |
| VDTL | Verband deutscher Tauchlehrer e.V. (German Dive Instructor Agency) |
| VVDS | Variable Volume Drysuit |
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| WASI | World Association of Scuba Instructors |
| WB | Weightbelt |
| WC | Water Capacity |
| WP | Water Pressure, also Working Pressure |
| WASAC | Welsh Association of Sub Aqua Clubs |
| WKPP | Woodville Karst Plains Project |
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| YBOD | Yellow Box Of Death (a rather cruel and unfair reference to the Inspiration CCR) |
| YBOD | Better known as the "Yellow Box Of Desire" |
| YMCA | Young Men's Christian Association National SCUBA Program |
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