US vs British Diving Vocabulary

[DaleC]

Funny thing about wrasses.

I fancy fish and went looking for something new. Before I could ask, the sales girl she excused herself to visit the loo. Upon her return I inquired whether she had a cleaner wrasse...

What does "wanker" mean?

 

[agilis]

Another Brit word I really like is "chuffed". For example: Many people admired my daughter's photos and I have to admit I felt quite chuffed (happy/proud/like snapping one's imaginary suspenders in satisfaction).

Chuffed has two meanings, one contemporary and one that dates back 200 years. The oldest meaning of chuffed describes annoyance, irritation, even outrage at being insulted: "He was quite chuffed by the oversight until the error was corrected".

This usage is now obsolete, but if you read diaries, commentaries, and books written during the Napoleonic Wars, or novels of that period describing lifestyles and manners, like Jane Austin, you will find the word chuffed used only in the old negative sense. This can cause great confusion. If the source is early 19th century to be chuffed is to be angry. If the source is mid to late 19th century or later, it means pleased, proud.

In both cases 'high colour' often seems to have been a factor. I think I'll delve into this a bit. Something for a retiree to do.

 

[Centrals]

How would you pronounce "route" and "vase"?
If I was not watching CNN recently I would had never known that "route" was not pronounced like "root"!
The route of MH017, I thought she meant there was some kind of argument on the flight!!!!!

 

[BRT]

Two nations, divided by a common language.

 

[Rhone Man]

What does "wanker" mean?

Everyone knows that one: it means an Australian.

 

[Mustard Dave]

Blob = DSMB

here's Yorkshire Divers for a bit of lingo: YD Scuba Diving Forums

There used to be a good tongue-in-cheek glossary of diving terminology, but unfortunately it seems to have disappeared. Most of the regulars have left Yorkshire Divers after the site was sold. A lot were not happy with the new terms and conditions, and a change to the operation of the site where you could not delete your own posts. As a result, somebody set up 'The Dive Forum', where most of the old YD members now post.

Edit: Found it - http://www.yorkshire-divers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11261&page=5

 

[Diver0001]

This thread got me thinking how many different words are used in the US and British Commonwealth countries for the same thing.

Not to mention other English words used in non English speaking countries.

In Holland, for example, the English words are

- "bit" = mouthpiece
- "fin" = flipper
- "bottle" = cylinder
- "trim vest" = BCD
- "glasses" = mask
- "shoes" = boots
- "waterless button" = "purge valve"
- "automaton" = regulator
- "snake" = hose
- "hood" = cap

etc etc.

 

[shoredivr]

Thanks Mustard Dave, found the following from the link:

Twinning rings = tank bands for doubles

Twinvert set = doubles inverted (valves at the bottom)

Hog looping = long hose

Jubilee clip = hose clamp

Piston clip = bolt snap

 

[tbone1004]

that dictionary is quite possibly one of th egreatest things I've read in a long time....

 

[Lost down under]

love that YD list

Deep Air Diver. A diver whose balls are massively larger than their brains. No allowance for women here as most women's desire to live is bigger than their desire to impress their mates

Pure comedy