PADI Divemaster Certification Practice Exam

In the context of diving, how has the author used the term "DCI"?

1. Correctly, it refers to decompression incidents

2. Incorrectly, the term should be "DCS"

3. As a synonym for hypoxia

4. As a category of diving environments

The correct answer is: Incorrectly, the term should be "DCS"

The term "DCI" stands for Decompression Illness, which is an umbrella term that includes conditions such as Decompression Sickness (DCS) and arterial gas embolism. When the term "DCI" is used in the context of diving, it is often correctly applied to refer to incidents related to improper ascent rates or failure to follow decompression protocols, which can lead to health issues resulting from changes in pressure. Using "DCS" as a specific subset of DCI is appropriate; DCS refers specifically to the condition that can occur when a diver ascends too quickly, leading to nitrogen bubbles forming in the body. This distinction is essential in understanding the broader implications of diving safety and the potential consequences of not adhering to proper decompression procedures. While the term should technically include both DCS and other forms of decompression illness under the DCI designation, interpreting "DCI" strictly as "DCS" would be a misapplication of the terminology. Therefore, the recognition of the term "DCI" as applicable to various decompression-related issues, rather than limiting it solely to DCS, reflects a correct understanding of the concepts involved in dive medicine.