WordNet
n. a gauge for measuring the depth of grooves or holes or other concavities [syn: depth gage]
Wikipedia
A depth gauge is a pressure gauge that displays the equivalent depth in water. It is a piece of diving equipment often used by SCUBA divers.
Most modern diving depth gauges have an electronic mechanism and digital display. Older types used a mechanical mechanism and analogue display.
A diver uses a depth gauge with decompression tables and a watch to avoid decompression sickness. A common alternative to the depth gauge, watch and decompression tables is a dive computer. A depth gauge and an oxygen analyser/ oxygen sensor can be used to measure the partial pressure of oxygen of the breathing gas, which is necessary to avoid oxygen toxicity.
Digital depth gauges commonly also include a timer showing the interval of time that the diver has been submerged. Some show the diver's rate of ascent and descent, which can be is useful for avoiding barotrauma.
As the gauge only measures water pressure, there is an inherent inaccuracy in the depth displayed by gauges that are used in both fresh water and seawater due to the difference in the densities of fresh water and seawater.
Usage examples of "depth gauge".
The diving officer watched the depth gauge stop moving before answering.
Rick held his wrist in the beam and read ninety-two feet on his depth gauge.
Pitt checked his depth gauge-- the needle stood at 186 feet-- and he waited until Giordino leveled out slightly ahead of him.
Divers military buoyancy compensator and a Sigma Systems console with depth gauge, air pressure gauge, compass and dive timer.
He looked at the luminous dial of his watch and noted the time, then at the depth gauge.
I wanted to check the depth gauge but the idea of moving my arm, of moving anything at all, was unnerving: but it was the only way to find out if I was sinking imperceptibly to the sea bed and increasing darkness.
The Yucatan, Mexico 20 THE PRESSURE AGAINST GAMAY'S ears told her internal depth gauge she was more than thirty feet under the black water.