What is a "negative buoyancy" situation?

A "negative buoyancy" situation occurs when an object, in this case a diver, is heavier than the volume of water it displaces, causing it to sink. When a diver is negatively buoyant, they will descend, which often happens more quickly than desired due to insufficient buoyancy control or excess weight. This is represented by the option stating that a diver is descending faster than intended.

In diving, managing buoyancy is crucial for safety and comfort. If a diver experiences negative buoyancy, they may need to adjust their weight, use buoyancy control devices, or employ techniques to slow down their descent. This contrasts sharply with scenarios where a diver is floating at the surface or descending slower than intended, as those indicate a neutral or positive buoyancy situation, respectively. Similarly, needing more weight in the BCD does not directly imply negative buoyancy; rather, it signifies a potential lack of buoyancy which could lead to struggling with controlled descent.