UNITS OF MEASUREMENT

In the BSAC we normally use the metric system for our diving calculations. This is not the only system which can be
used however. When diving abroad and hiring equipment locally, or when diving with some of the older divers here in
the UK, you may come across items of kit like depth gauges, computers, & cylinders which are not calibrated in metric
units. This article is intended to review & explain relationships between some of the units of measurement currently in
use by divers around the world.

CYLINDER VOLUMES AND PRESSURES

When we describe a cylinder we normally do so in terms of its water capacity and working pressure (for example, a
cylinder having 12l WC and 232 bar WP). We could give an equal valid description in terms of how much air the
cylinder contains when charged to its working pressure (i.e. 12 x 232 = 2784 litres). In the United States, and in other
countries still using imperial measures, cylinders are often described using the latter description, but in cubic feet of air
contained in the cylinder when fully charged ( 1 cubic ft = 28.32 litres). Standard cylinder sizes are: 80 cubic feet, 100
cubic feet and 120 cubic feet (which correspond approximately to our 10, 12 , & 15 litre cylinders respectively).

Cylinder working pressures are normally expressed in 'bars' in the UK. Many compressors however still have gauges
calibrated in pounds per square inch (psi). In countries still using the imperial system of measurement, cylinder working
pressures are also usually expressed in psi (1 bar = 14.5 psi). Typical cylinder working pressures which you may come
across when diving overseas are 2400 psi (165 bar), 3000 psi (206 bar), 3300 psi (227 bar) and 3500 psi (241 bar).

DISTANCE, DEPTH AND PRESSURE

When diving, we always carry a device for measuring depth (either a depth gauge or a dive computer). In the UK, such
depth measuring devices are normally calibrated in metres of seawater. In many other countries the same devices are
calibrated in feet of seawater (1 metre = 3.28 feet). Most of the charts which we use for dive planning in the UK show
depth of water in metres. Other charts which you may come across (including charts for UK waters) however show
depths in feet or fathoms (1 fathom = 6 feet).

As members of the BSAC, we will probably carry out the majority of our dives using the BSAC '88 decompression
tables. These are not however the only decompression tables available. In fact, probably the most commonly used
decompression tables in the world are the US Navy tables. All of the available decompression tables use a combination
of depth and time to compute the diver's decompression requirements. Many of these tables (including the US Navy
decompression tables) express the depth in feet of seawater.

Many of the calculations that we carry out for diving require the absolute pressure at the dive depth. In the metric
system, we simply divide the depth (in metres) by ten and add 1 bar to obtain the absolute pressure at that depth. When
we are using the imperial system of measurement, depths will normally be expressed in feet. To obtain the absolute
pressure P ( in atmospheres) at a given depth D (where D is in feet), we use the formula:-

(D+ 33)
P= ats
33
{NB - Another use of distance measurements in diving is in underwater photography. Since an object
underwater appears to be 1/3 larger than it really is (i.e. 4/3 actual size) the camera focus will need to be set
to 3/4 of the actual distance (in metres or feet) from the object}.
WEIGHT

Underwater, the weight of an object is affected by buoyancy (Archimedes Principle). The effects of buoyancy were
covered in an earlier article in this series. Divers compensate for this buoyancy by wearing a weight belt and a buoyancy
compensator device (an ABLJ or stab-jacket). Buoyancy will also effect the weight of objects in calculations relating to
underwater lifting operations. In the metric system weights are expressed in grams, kilograms and metric tonnes. In the
imperial system of measurement, weights are expressed in ounces, pounds and tons. Equipment which you may come
across (such as weights for weightbelts or lifting bags, for example) may use either imperial or metric units which may
be converted thus:-

1 ounce = 28.35 grams

1 pound = 0.45 kilograms
1 ton = 0.9078 metric tonnes

Some conversion factors for commonly used units are listed in the table below. The list, though far from
comprehensive, should provide a useful reference when confronted with unfamiliar units in diving:

To convert into Multiply by

bars pounds/sq in 14.50
Centigrade Fahrenheit (oCx 9/5) +32
centimetres feet 0.0328
inches 0.3937
cubic centimetres cubic feet 0.00003531
cubic inches 0.06102
cubic metres 0.000001
litres 0.0001
cubic feet cubic cm 28320.0
cubic metres 0.02832
litres 28.32
cubic inches cubic cm 16.39
cubic metres 0.00001639
litres 0.01639
cubic metres cubic cm 1000000.0
cubic feet 35.31
cubic inches 61023.0
litres 1000.0
Fahrenheit Celsius 5/9(oF - 32)
fathoms feet 6.0
metres 1.8288
feet centimetres 30.48
kilometres 0.000348
metres 0.3048
miles (nautical) 0.0001645
miles (stat) 0.0001894
gallons cubic cm 3785.0
cubic ft 0.1337
litres 3.785
pints 8.0
grams ounces 0.03528
inches centimetres 2.54
metres 0.0254
kilograms pounds 2.205
kilometres miles 0.6214
knots km/hr 1.8532
mph 1.1516
league miles (nautical) 3.0
litres cu feet 0.03531
cu metres 0.001
gallons 0.2642
metres feet 3.281
miles (nautical) 0.0005396
miles (statute) 0.0006214
miles (nautical) feet 6080.20
kilometres 1.853248
miles (statute) 1.1516
miles (statute) feet 5280.0
kilometres 1.609
ounces grams 28.349527
pounds 0.0625
ounces (troy) 0.9115
pints gallons 0.125
litres 0.4732
pounds grams 453.5924
kilograms 0.4536
ounces 16.0
pounds/ cu in grams/cu cm 0.01602
kg/ cu metre 16.02
pounds/ sq in bars 0.06894
tonnes (metric) kilograms 1000.0
pounds 2205.0