Wisconsin Sea Grant Underwater Exploration
Glossary
algorithm: a mathematical formula
atmospheric pressure: the amount of pressure the air around us exerts on our bodies at sea level, about 14.7 pounds of pressure per square inch
ballast: heavy material that is placed in the hold of a ship to enhance stability
bathyscape: a strong, hollow vessel designed for underwater exploration with its own system of buoyancy control so that an attached cable is not needed to control descent and ascent
bathysphere: a strong, hollow vessel designed for underwater exploration that is lowered and raised by an attached cable from a support ship
bends: see "decompression sickness
caisson: a watertight structure within which construction work is carried on under water
decompression sickness: a painful and potentially fatal malady an environment of high pressure to one of lower pressure
diving bell: a weighted chamber, open at the bottom, in which a person can be lowered under water
free diving: also known as breath hold diving, this is a method of diving where a diver simply holds her breath and submerges, using little or no equipment
hyperbaric: having a pressure greater than that within the body tissues or fluids
mixed-gas
diving: a diving method whereby divers breathe special gas mixtures
other than regular air while
underwater
snorkel: a hollow tube swimmers or divers can breathe through when they are close to the surface
scuba: self-contained underwater breathing
apparatus
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copyright 2000 University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute
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