The medical condition known as “the bends” or decompression sickness is a hazardous consequence of rapid ascents by divers from deep dives. It arises from the formation of nitrogen gas bubbles in the body due to the sudden change in pressure during ascent. This condition can lead to severe harm to the body, ranging from mild discomfort in the joints to paralysis or even death.
The most common way to avoid decompression sickness when scuba diving is by adhering strictly to dive tables or dive computers.
Dive tables are charts which provide information on how long a diver can stay at a certain depth before needing to ascend safely. They also provide guidelines on how quickly a diver should ascend and how long they should stop on their way up in order to avoid decompression sickness. Dive computers are electronic devices which monitor depth and time spent underwater and calculate the amount of time needed for safe ascents and safety stops for each individual dive.
Other ways of avoiding decompression sickness include:
- Slower ascents – ascending more slowly will give your body more time to adjust to the pressure change on its way up;
- Regular safety stops – stopping for 3-5 minutes at set depths gives your body a chance to off-gas;
- Limiting maximum depths – staying shallower will reduce the amount of nitrogen your body absorbs;
- Avoiding multiple dives in one day – allowing your body enough time between dives will prevent too much nitrogen from accumulating;
Conclusion: The best way to avoid decompression sickness when scuba diving is by adhering strictly to dive tables or dive computers. This ensures that divers stay within safe limits for their dive profile and ascent rate, allowing them to enjoy diving safely with minimal risk of decompression sickness.
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