Nitrogen Absorption

When diving, our body tissues absorb nitrogen from the air we breathe, proportional to the increased pressure underwater. The deeper and longer we dive, the more nitrogen our tissues absorb.

Ascending to the Surface

As we ascend, the pressure decreases, and our tissues release the absorbed nitrogen. If this release happens too quickly, it can form bubbles in the bloodstream, similar to what happens when opening a shaken soda bottle or beer can. These bubbles can cause blockages, leading to serious health risks like joint pain, nerve damage, or even life-threatening conditions.

Preventing Decompression Sickness

Planning our dives ensures we stay within safe limits for depth and time, allowing nitrogen to release from our body tissues slowly and safely. It may also include safety stops during ascent to let nitrogen levels normalize gradually.

Multiple dives

If doing multiple dives in a day, we should plan for subsequent dives while accounting for residual nitrogen from earlier dives, reducing cumulative risks.