Reserved Air Capacity

Most recent answer: 10/22/2007

Q:
Information on reserved air capacity?
- Anonymous (age 13)
Wagoner Middle School, Wagoner, OK, U.S.A.
A:
This is a little harder since I don’t know in what context you’re refering to ’reserved air capacity,’ but I’ll give it a shot. The only context in which I have ever heard of this phrase being used is scuba diving.

When a scuba diver goes deep underwater, it’s very important for them to keep in mind how much air they have left in their tank. If they decide to go really deep, they also have to remember how much air it will take for the swim back up again. For example, if the diver goes 50 feet down, then he (or she) will require less air for the trip back up than he would need if he decided to go 100 feet down. It’s also a good idea for divers to keep some ’extra’ air in their tank at all times, so that if they have an accident underwater they won’t run out of air.

All of the air that they have to keep left over in their tank is refered to as the ’reserved air capacity’. This is the amount of air that they have to keep on ’reserve’ for the trip back up and for emergencies.

-Tamara

(published on 10/22/2007)