Diving & Water Sports

1. Aqqarusuppunga.

   I'd like to go scuba diving

   Usage

   Expressing interest in scuba diving

   Grammar Note

   A person diving is aqqarpoq and a diver is aqqartartoq; these are distinct from allorpoq (a bird diving) and arajuppoq (a whale diving).

2. Aqqarnermut allagartaq pisariaqarpa?

   Is a diving certification required?

   Usage

   Checking certification requirements

   Grammar Note

   aqqarpoq is "dives under water, descends". allagartaq is "certificate, written slip", corresponding to Danish certifikat.

3. Masarlisit sumi attartorsinnaavakka?

   Where can I rent a wetsuit?

   Usage

   Finding where to rent a wetsuit

   Grammar Note

   For våddragt, masarlit / masarlisit / masassiutit are used, so no loanword is needed. Like other garments it is treated as plural, hence the 3pl object ending -vakka. attartorpaa is to hire for payment, the same form as attartorsinnaavakka?

4. Aqqarfik manna qanoq ititigaa?

   How deep is this dive site?

   Usage

   Asking about the depth of the dive site

   Grammar Note

   itivoq is "is deep". The pattern qanoq ...tigaa? asks about degree, as in qanoq portutigaa? "how tall is it?"

5. Ullumi immap pissutsii ajunngillat?

   Are conditions good for diving today?

   Usage

   Checking diving conditions

   Grammar Note

   pissutsit is "conditions, circumstances" (Danish forhold / tilstande), always plural, so ajunngilaq "is good" takes the 3pl ending ajunngillat. immap is the genitive of imaq "sea".

6. Umiatsiamik aqqarnissaq inniminnersinnaavara?

   Can I book a boat dive?

   Usage

   Booking a boat dive

   Grammar Note

   umiatsiaq is "boat"; a large ship is umiarsuaq. inniminnerpaa is "reserves it".

7. Koraalit sumiippat?

   Where are the corals?

   Usage

   Asking for coral reef location

   Grammar Note

   koral "in the sea" is koraali; a reef itself is ikkarluk. With a plural subject sumiippa takes the 3pl ending sumiippat. The corals off Greenland are cold-water ones, not tropical reefs.

8. PADI-mik allagartaqarpunga.

   I'm a certified diver — PADI Open Water

   Usage

   Stating your diving certification level

   Grammar Note

   allagartaq is a diploma or licence (corresponding to certifikat / attest; example: timmisartortartutut allagartaqarpoq "holds a pilot's licence"). -qar- "has" plus the 1sg ending -punga.

9. Sarfaq qanoq issava?

   What are the current conditions?

   Usage

   Asking about current and tidal conditions

   Grammar Note

   sarfaq is "current" (of water or electricity); a strong current is sarfarippoq. "How will it be?" follows the phrase sila qanoq issava? "what will the weather be like?".

10. Immap iluani kalerrisaarut suua?

    What is the emergency signal underwater?

    Usage

    Learning the emergency signal before diving

    Grammar Note

    kalerrisaarut is an alarm or signal (kalerrisaarpaa "signals to him"). "Inside X" is the genitive plus iluani. suua? asks "what is it?".

11. Pileqqaanut aqqarfik pitsaanerpaaq sumiippa?

    What's the best spot for beginners?

    Usage

    Finding the best beginner spot

    Grammar Note

    A beginner is pileqqaaq (pilerlaaq and aallarteqqaaq are synonyms). aqqarfik is the diving spot, and the superlative is -nerpaaq.

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