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Thread: Dive Acronyms

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    Moderator lottie's Avatar
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    Default Dive Acronyms

    Quote Originally Posted by acelockco View Post
    230 fsw
    Maybe i'm showing my naivety of dive techno-babble, but as mentioned by Ace in another thread - what does fsw mean? I've read it in other threads, but never asked...hence why I'm asking now.

    Are there are other acronyms that are used by divers that someone who doesn't know, should know about (without having to swallow a diving dictionary)

    Tanx
    Lottie

  2. #2
    Wreck Diving Moderator acelockco's Avatar
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by lottie View Post
    Maybe i'm showing my naivety of dive techno-babble, but as mentioned by Ace in another thread - what does fsw mean? I've read it in other threads, but never asked...hence why I'm asking now.

    Are there are other acronyms that are used by divers that someone who doesn't know, should know about (without having to swallow a diving dictionary)

    Tanx
    FFW ----> Feet Fresh Water

    FSW ---->Feet Salt Water

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    SMN Publisher The Publisher's Avatar
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    Many professions attempt to make their past time sound more complicated and demanding than reality. Lawyers use latin, physicians handwriting more resembles hieroglyphics, other use acronyms uncontrollably.

    "I descended to 120 FSW".........What is wrong with; I went to 120 feet? I mean, are readers REALLY going to do fact checking with a hydrometer to determine the specific gravity of the fluid in which you dive to verify that it is in fact salt water or fresh water? Or how about; "We suited up on the shores of lake so and so and descended to 80 FFW. I would have thought the word "lake" made the middle f in FFW rather redundant.

    Us closed circuit rebreather types take such silliness to a whole new dimension:

    SCR-semi-closed circuit rebreather
    CCR, close circuit rebreather
    eCCR, electronic closed circuit rebreather
    dCCR diver controlled closed circuit rebreather
    mCCR, manual closed circuit rebreather (no doubt controlled by Manuel)
    RMVR Respiratory Minute Volume Keyed Rebreather
    DSV-Dive surface valve
    OC/DSV open circuit dive surface valve
    DSV/BOV dive surface bailout valve

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    Moderator lottie's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by The Publisher View Post
    "I descended to 120 FSW".........What is wrong with; I went to 120 feet?
    Now that I know what fsw/ffw mean - like you said, it would be alot easier for the reader (and probably the writer) to read/write 120 feet, especially if they've already described the diving being in an ocean or a lake.

    I think people use acronyms just to make themselves look clever (no offence to you Ace for using fsw in another thread, nor anyone else for that matter). The number of IT geeks i've been around that have mentioned about VOiP, SOAP, IP, DHTML, MSDN, NTF, XML, CSMA/CD

    Oy vey <rollseyes>
    Last edited by lottie; 07-25-2007 at 11:12 PM.
    Lottie

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    Wreck Diving Moderator acelockco's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by The Publisher View Post
    "We suited up on the shores of lake so and so and descended to 80 FFW. I would have thought the word "lake" made the middle f in FFW rather redundant.
    My Dear Watson,

    I would like to know when the word "lake" has anything to do with the salt content of the water? Did you ever hear of the Great Salt Lake?
    Last edited by acelockco; 07-26-2007 at 01:27 AM.

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    Waterman Tigerbeach's Avatar
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    Don't forget the acronym "POS!"

    POS is a construction term, I think; it means : not very good.

    For example: "Look at those POS split fins!"

    rotff!

    (There's another one...!)
    ASW


    "Don't believe everything you think"

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    SMN Publisher The Publisher's Avatar
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    So why don't you tell us how you really feel about split fins and stop being so cryptic!


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    Default Use of acronyms

    Many years ago a physics teacher was explaining something to a class. When he got to the final step in the process he said something to the effect of; " and there you have it, QED"
    Those of us who had limited classical training or possibly hadn't really been paying attention just stared blankly back at him.

    "QED" he said, "from the latin, quod erat demonstradum" our response was a continued blank stare. He explained that it really means the rest is pretty obvious just think of it as "quite easily done". Ah! No problem Sir, we've got it!

    Next problem is being worked through and the teacher asked one of the class to run through his answer. He starts off, gets a little stuck, fumbles a couple of times and then proudly states his answer with the comment "... and there you have it, POP". The teacher looks a little perplexed and asks "POP?"

    The young lad replies;
    "from the English Sir, Piece of Piss!"

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    Wreck Diving Moderator acelockco's Avatar
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    I don't get it?

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    Registered Users dalehall's Avatar
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    You learned about CESA (Controlled Emergency Swimming Ascent) in your O/W class.
    After diving for awhile with Insta-Budies, you learn about PESA from them.
    Which is the Panicked Emergency Swimming Ascent.
    **D**
    Dive Often, Dive Safe and Share Your Sport.
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    Adopt a Manatee

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