What is the differential pressure experienced by a diver at 176 fsw?

To determine the differential pressure experienced by a diver at 176 feet of seawater (fsw), it's important to understand how pressure increases with depth in a marine environment. In diving, pressure increases by approximately 0.445 psi for every foot of seawater in addition to the atmospheric pressure at the surface, which is about 14.7 psi at sea level.

At 176 fsw, the pressure due to the water alone can be calculated as follows:

1. Multiply the depth (176 fsw) by the pressure increase per foot (0.445 psi):

( 176 , \text{fsw} \times 0.445 , \text{psi/fsw} = 78.22 , \text{psi} )

2. Add the atmospheric pressure:

( 78.22 , \text{psi} + 14.7 , \text{psi} = 92.92 , \text{psi} )

Therefore, the total absolute pressure at that depth is approximately 92.92 psi. However, when discussing differential pressure, we focus only on the pressure exerted by the water itself, excluding atmospheric pressure. Therefore, from the initial calculations,