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#51828
 SCUBA Slang: It’s BC not BCD, Viz not Visibility
Greg - 2/26/2013 10:51 AM
Category: New Diver Q&A
Replies: 13
As a new scuba diver, it is just as important to know what you’re doing as it is to sound like you know what you’re doing (ok maybe not as important). So I always teach my students to say BC when referring to their BCD, because that seems to be the accepted way to say it in the back alley of the scuba world. You should also say viz instead of visibility. Saying the full word just takes too long, and divers should spend more time diving and less time talking :)


Other useful terms so you sound like a scuba pro and not a noob:



c-card = certification card

chamber = hyperbaric chamber

deco = decompression (ie: safety stop)

get wet = go scuba diving

hydro = scuba tank hydrostatic/pressure test

octo = octopus

off-gas = surface interval

regs = regulators



Can you suggest other scuba slang terms so we can educate the noobs?
#4002
WarmWaterTurner - 2/26/2013 11:58 AM
hit = decompression illness
#51828
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Greg - 2/26/2013 12:57 PM
skin = thin lycra exposure suit
#7370
UWnewbee - 2/26/2013 2:33 PM
Id go with DCS = De-Compression Sickness

And dont forget..........DB = Divebuddy.com
#20454
LatitudeAdjustment - 2/26/2013 3:42 PM
Sometimes a BC is a BP&W or BPW = Back Plate and Wing

Rig = all of your gear for one dive

SPG = Smersible Presure Gauge

DPG = DePth Gauge

Combo = BC inflator and octo in one

Dive Suite = Dive suit + Gloves, boats and hood

Stroke = someone not wearing their gear correctly or a DIR nazi talking about someone who bought gear the wrong shade of black.

OOA = Out Of Air!

Long hose, no he’s not bragging or being obsene when he say’s to grab his long hose during the buddy check. It’s a 7’ to 10’ hose on the primary reg that allows a diver sharing air to swim beside or head to toe exiting a wreck or cave. The donor goes to his octo since an OOA diver tends to grab the one in you mouth anyway!
#1600
lerpy - 2/26/2013 4:31 PM
When I ask my buddy for my long hose it’s more wishful thinking and overexaggeration.
#12181
Eric_R - 2/26/2013 5:54 PM
Fart Bag = Dry Suit.
Bend-O-Matic = Dive computer.
Dive Chick = A female diver that puts on makeup and brushes her hair before a dive.
Dive Babe = A real women diver. Opposite of Dive Chick.
Braille Dive = VIZ so low you just feel your way around.
De-fizzing = Off gassing.
#4002
WarmWaterTurner - 2/27/2013 7:26 AM
kit = also used for gear
#8046
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Rich-D-Fish - 2/27/2013 11:39 AM
Fill = air refill (not refill your slurpee cup at 7-11)

Class = Area to avoid at all costs due to low visibility and high concentrations of silt in the water
#2086
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zielit - 2/27/2013 11:39 AM
VIP = visual inspection

Doubles = double tanks with manifold

deco or stage bottle = additional tank for decompression stop

BP&W or BPW is also often for short called just wing

sausage = dive signal tube
#7370
UWnewbee - 3/01/2013 4:56 AM
Nav = Navigation

Coords = Coordinates
#51828
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Greg - 3/01/2013 5:51 PM
From Progrower: Fart Bag = Dry Suit.


That’s a new one to me :)

From Progrower: Dive Babe = A real women diver. Opposite of Dive Chick.


My wife has a t-shirt that says "Dive Babe", but she is not a diver yet :(
#51828
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Greg - 3/01/2013 5:52 PM
From Rich-D-Fish: Class = Area to avoid at all costs due to low visibility and high concentrations of silt in the water


This is sooo true! I read my wife this one :) Pretty funny.
#141
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puddle_jumper - 4/10/2016 5:24 PM
Got stumped by the term air 2 the other day at the dive shop when preusing prospective BCs. I think "combo" would have been cooler term. Bend-o-maric would prolly get the best looks from people.