Practice exams · real exam standards

Surface on exam day fully prepared.

Scuba Exams gives diving students realistic practice exams modeled on the questions you'll actually face — from your first Open Water test all the way to the Instructor Exam. Drill, review, and walk in knowing you've got it.

200+
Practice exams per course
5,000+
Practice questions
4
Certification levels
11
Study languages
Scroll
93%
First-time pass rate
11
Languages, fully translated
Unlimited
Exam retakes
Instant
Answer explanations
Any
Device, anywhere
Pick your level

One course per certification.
Sign up for the one you need.

Each enrollment unlocks a full set of practice exams and topic quizzes built for that certification — with detailed explanations on every question.

How it works

Three steps to dive-day confidence

01

Pick your course

Sign up for the certification you're working toward. One simple subscription unlocks every practice exam for that level — cancel anytime.

02

Practice & review

Work through full timed exams or focus on weak topics. Every question comes with a clear explanation of why each answer is right or wrong.

03

Walk in ready

Track your scores until you're consistently passing. Then sit your real exam knowing exactly what to expect.

The theory is the part you can master before you ever get wet.

That's exactly what Scuba Exams is built to do.

Study in your language

Your exam. Your language.

Dive theory is hard enough without translating it in your head first. Every question, every answer option and every explanation is written in 11 languages — not just the buttons and menus. Switch any time, even mid-exam, to check a term against the English wording you'll meet on test day.

EnglishEspañolFrançaisDeutschPortuguêsItalianoNederlands中文日本語한국어Русский
11Study languages
10,000+Questions in every language
104,000+Translated questions
Free sample test

Take a free practice test

Pick a certification and try a sample exam — multiple-choice, true/false and diagram-based questions, just like the real thing. You'll get instant feedback and an explanation on every question. No sign-up required.

Which exam are you preparing for?

Explore each course

What's inside every course

BeginnerNo experience needed

Open Water Diver

Your first certification opens the whole ocean. This course drills every concept on the Open Water exam — dive physics, physiology, equipment and dive planning — until the theory feels like second nature.

What you'll be tested on

01
Dive physicsPressure, buoyancy & air spaces
02
Dive physiologyEqualization & managing nitrogen
03
EquipmentRegs, BCDs, cylinders & care
04
Dive planningTables, computers & no-stop limits
05
Skills & environmentBuddy procedures & signals
06
Safe divingAscent rates & safety stops
$19.99 / month
200+ exams · 1,000+ questions · unlimited retakes
Sample question Open Water · Dive Physics

A flexible balloon holds 6 litres of air at the surface. At what depth in sea water would its volume be compressed to roughly 2 litres?

A 10 metres
B 20 metres
C 30 metres
D 40 metres
Answer: B, 20 metres. Pressure rises ~1 bar every 10 m. At the surface there's 1 bar (6 L); at 20 m it's 3 bar, so by Boyle's Law the volume is one-third — about 2 litres.
IntermediateEmergency-focused

Rescue Diver

Most divers call it the most challenging — and most rewarding — course they've taken. The theory shifts from looking after yourself to looking after everyone in the water. We drill stress recognition, emergency management and rescue technique until your responses are automatic.

What you'll be tested on

01
Self-rescueSolving your own problems early
02
Recognising stressEarly signs of panic
03
Emergency managementBuilding an action plan
04
Rescue techniquesApproaches, tows & exits
05
Missing & unresponsiveSearch patterns & surfacing
06
First aid integrationCPR, oxygen & primary care
$19.99 / month
200+ exams · 1,000+ questions · scenario drills
Sample question Rescue · Emergency Management

You reach an unresponsive diver who is not breathing at the surface. What is your first priority while signalling for help?

A Remove all of their equipment immediately
B Establish buoyancy for both of you, then begin rescue breaths while towing
C Descend to check for entanglement
D Wait for the boat before doing anything
Answer: B. Positive buoyancy keeps you both safely at the surface and frees you to act. Opening the airway and giving rescue breaths while towing toward the exit gives the diver the best chance — every second of ventilation counts.
ProfessionalDive theory heavy

Divemaster

The Divemaster exam is where the theory gets serious — five dive-theory subjects plus standards. The decompression and RDP calculations trip up more candidates than anything else, so this course is built to make that section your strongest.

What you'll be tested on

01
PhysicsPressure, light, heat & sound
02
PhysiologyCirculation & decompression illness
03
EquipmentHow dive gear performs
04
Decompression & RDPThe make-or-break section
05
Skills & environmentTides, currents & marine life
06
Standards & supervisionManaging risk & students
$19.99 / month
200+ exams · 1,000+ questions · worked solutions
Sample question Divemaster · Physics

A lift bag holds 24 litres of air at 30 m in sea water. If it rises to 10 m without venting, what happens to the gas volume?

A Decreases to about 12 litres
B Expands to about 48 litres
C Stays at 24 litres
D Expands to about 72 litres
Answer: B, about 48 litres. At 30 m pressure is 4 bar; at 10 m it's 2 bar. Halving the pressure doubles the volume (Boyle's Law), so 24 L → ~48 L — which is exactly why an unvented lift bag accelerates dangerously toward the surface.
InstructorIDC & IE prep

Instructor (IDC / IE)

The Instructor Exam is the final theory hurdle before you can teach: the same five dive-theory subjects at a higher pass mark, plus the all-important Standards & Procedures exam. This course recreates that pressure so the real IE feels familiar.

What you'll be tested on

01
PhysicsInstructor-level calculations
02
PhysiologyDecompression theory in depth
03
EquipmentPerformance standards
04
RDPTable & computer planning
05
Skills & teachingApplying theory to students
06
Standards & ProceduresThe exam you can't wing
$19.99 / month
200+ exams · 1,000+ questions · scored like the IE
Sample question Instructor · Standards & Procedures

In confined water, what is the maximum student-to-instructor ratio typically permitted for entry-level training without a certified assistant present?

A 4 students to 1 instructor
B 8 students to 1 instructor
C 12 students to 1 instructor
D There is no defined limit
Answer: B. For entry-level confined-water training the baseline ratio is commonly 8:1, extendable with certified assistants. Always confirm against the current standards for your agency and course — knowing exactly where the limits sit and how they flex is precisely what this exam tests.

Every course includes

Pause & resumeLeave any exam and pick it up later exactly where you stopped.
Flag for reviewMark tricky questions and jump straight back to them later.
Topic quizzesDrill one section at a time — physics, physiology, planning and more.
Retry what you missedA quiz built from every question you got wrong, until you master it.
Track your progressScores, readiness by section and a history of every exam you take.
Study in 11 languagesEvery question and explanation, switchable any time — even mid-exam.
Why Scuba Exams

Built by divers, for the exam that's next.

Modeled on the real thing

Questions mirror the format, phrasing and difficulty of the actual certification exams — so nothing on test day is a surprise.

Timed exam simulation

Practice under the same time limits and pass thresholds. Build the pacing and calm you need under pressure.

Explanations on every answer

Don't just memorize — understand. Each question includes the reasoning, the formula, or the standard behind the answer.

Study in your language

Every question and explanation is written in 11 languages — Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Italian, Dutch, Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Russian. Switch any time, even mid-exam.

Track your progress

See your scores climb across attempts and spot the topics that need work before you commit to the real exam.

Unlimited access

One simple monthly subscription per course. Come back as often as you like, right up to exam morning — cancel whenever you want.

Practice anywhere

Phone, tablet or laptop — drill on the boat, on the bus, or the night before. Your progress syncs across devices.

Questions

Good to know

Are these the actual exam questions?

No. Scuba Exams writes original practice questions that match the topics, format and difficulty of the real certification exams. Reproducing official exam questions would breach copyright — and wouldn't actually teach you the material. Our goal is for you to understand every concept, not memorize a leaked answer key.

Is Scuba Exams affiliated with PADI?

No. Scuba Exams is an independent study tool. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by PADI or any certification agency. We simply help students prepare for the exams those agencies administer.

Can I study in a language other than English?

Yes — 11 languages in total. We translate the questions and the explanations themselves, not just the site navigation, so you can revise in the language you think in. You can switch language at any point, including part-way through an exam, which is useful for checking a technical term against the English wording you may face on the day.

Do I pay once or subscribe?

Each course is a simple monthly subscription — full access to that course's practice exams, with unlimited retakes. Pricing varies by course and is shown before you enroll. Cancel anytime. If you move up to the next certification, you subscribe to that course separately.

Can I retake the practice exams?

As many times as you want. Questions are shuffled and drawn from a large pool, so each attempt feels fresh. Practice until your scores are consistently above the pass mark.

What if I don't pass my real exam?

Keep practicing — as long as your subscription is active, you can prepare for a retake at no extra cost.