15 PADI Freediver Course Exam Practise Questions

Here are 15 practice questions designed to help students prepare for the PADI Freediver Course exam. These questions cover the key topics such as breath-hold techniques, safety, physiology, and equipment, which are essential for freediving training.

1. What is the primary safety rule when freediving?

a) Always dive with a buddy
b) Never dive deeper than 10 meters
c) Always dive in clear water
d) Dive only during daylight hours

Answer: a) Always dive with a buddy

2. When should you equalize during a freedive?

a) Only when you feel discomfort in your ears
b) At the surface and regularly during descent
c) Once you reach your maximum depth
d) When you start ascending

Answer: b) At the surface and regularly during descent

3. What is the main purpose of a “buddy” in freediving?

a) To carry extra equipment
b) To provide companionship during the dive
c) To monitor the safety of the diver and assist if necessary
d) To dive deeper and faster

Answer: c) To monitor the safety of the diver and assist if necessary

4. What is “shallow water blackout” and when does it typically occur?

a) A loss of consciousness due to hypoxia (low oxygen) after a deep dive
b) A sudden increase in pressure as you ascend from depth
c) A loss of consciousness due to hyperventilation before a dive
d) A temporary loss of vision caused by sunlight at the surface

Answer: a) A loss of consciousness due to hypoxia (low oxygen) after a deep dive

5. How long should a proper breath-hold be before starting a freedive?

a) 1-2 seconds
b) 10-15 seconds
c) As long as possible
d) 1-2 minutes

Answer: b) 10-15 seconds

6. What is the main danger associated with hyperventilation before a freedive?

a) It increases your chances of a deep dive
b) It lowers your body’s carbon dioxide levels, which can delay the urge to breathe and lead to shallow water blackout
c) It causes your lungs to shrink, making it difficult to hold your breath
d) It speeds up the oxygen consumption rate in your body

Answer: b) It lowers your body’s carbon dioxide levels, which can delay the urge to breathe and lead to shallow water blackout

7. Which of the following is NOT a recommended technique to improve your breath-hold?

a) Diaphragmatic breathing
b) Relaxation and mental focus
c) Hyperventilating before each dive
d) Equalizing early and often

Answer: c) Hyperventilating before each dive

8. What happens to your lungs as you descend in the water?

a) They expand
b) They stay the same size
c) They compress due to the increased pressure
d) They fill with more air

Answer: c) They compress due to the increased pressure

9. What is the main function of the Frenzel maneuver in freediving?

a) To improve lung capacity
b) To help equalize the ears and sinuses during descent
c) To prevent your body from losing buoyancy
d) To slow your rate of ascent

Answer: b) To help equalize the ears and sinuses during descent

10. What should you do if you begin to feel uncomfortable while freediving, such as shortness of breath or pain in the chest?

a) Ignore the discomfort and continue the dive
b) Slowly ascend to the surface while staying calm
c) Dive deeper to relieve pressure
d) Hyperventilate before your next dive to prepare for the discomfort

Answer: b) Slowly ascend to the surface while staying calm

11. What is the purpose of the “pre-dive breath-up”?

a) To fill your lungs to maximum capacity
b) To relax and prepare the body mentally for the dive
c) To increase your heart rate
d) To speed up the rate of oxygen consumption

Answer: b) To relax and prepare the body mentally for the dive

12. During your ascent from a freedive, how should you equalize?

a) Only when you feel discomfort in the ears
b) Regularly as you ascend, especially during rapid ascents
c) Never, because equalizing is only for descents
d) By holding your breath until you reach the surface

Answer: b) Regularly as you ascend, especially during rapid ascents

13. What is the recommended dive profile for a beginner freediver?

a) Shallow dives, no deeper than 5 meters
b) Deep dives, reaching up to 30 meters
c) Constant deep dives, no surface intervals
d) Dives to 10 meters, with long periods of rest at the surface

Answer: a) Shallow dives, no deeper than 5 meters

14. What should you do if your buddy shows signs of distress or appears unconscious underwater?

a) Wait for them to resurface on their own
b) Immediately bring them to the surface, administer rescue breathing, and call for help
c) Dive to the same depth and continue the dive
d) Let them ascend slowly and check in later

Answer: b) Immediately bring them to the surface, administer rescue breathing, and call for help

15. Which of the following is NOT a recommended safety item for freediving?

a) A buoy and flag to signal your location to boats
b) A wetsuit to protect from cold water and buoyancy
c) A dive computer to monitor oxygen levels during the dive
d) A dive knife for emergency situations

Answer: c) A dive computer to monitor oxygen levels during the dive

These questions are intended to test key knowledge and safety protocols that are critical for all freedivers. To pass the PADI Freediver Course exam, students need to be familiar with proper techniques, safety measures, and the physiological aspects of freediving.