What are the Bends?
Bends, also known as decompression sickness (DCS) or being bent, is a potentially serious condition that may affect scuba divers who ascend to the surface too rapidly or fail to follow proper decompression procedures. This article explores the symptoms, causes, prevention, and treatment of the bends, providing divers with essential knowledge to reduce the risk of DCS and maintain safe diving practices.
What is Ascent when Diving?
Ascent refers to the upward movement a diver makes as they transition from being submerged underwater to reaching the surface. This process is an essential phase in scuba diving, directly impacting the safety and health of the diver. Ascent is not necessarily a straightforward or continuous journey from depth to the surface; it may require planned pauses, known as decompression stops, to help the body adjust to pressure changes and avoid decompression sickness, a condition commonly called “the bends.” In scuba diving, a controlled and deliberate ascent is crucial to maintaining well-being, preventing injuries, and ensuring a safe return to the surface. This article will explore the importance of ascent, its stages, best practices, and the potential risks divers face during this critical part of the dive.
What is Arterial Gas Embolism (AGE) from Scuba Diving?
What is Arterial Gas Embolism (AGE) from Scuba Diving? Arterial gas embolism (AGE) is a type of decompression illness that occurs in scuba diving, characterized by the formation of gas bubbles in the arterial blood supply. This serious condition can result from trapped air expanding in the lungs, causing ruptures and barotrauma. AGE can have […]
What is Ambient Pressure in Scuba Diving?
What is Ambient Pressure in Scuba Diving? Ambient pressure plays a critical role in scuba diving and understanding its effects on the human body is essential for divers’ safety and enjoyment. This entry explores the concept of ambient pressure, its sources, implications for dive planning, and how it influences dive physiology and equipment. Ambient pressure […]
What is Anoxia?
What is Anoxia? Anoxia, a medical condition characterized by an acute deficiency of oxygen in the body, is a critical concern for scuba divers. It can occur due to various reasons and poses severe risks to divers’ health and safety. In the context of scuba diving, it is essential to understand the causes, symptoms, and […]
What is Recompression when Scuba Diving?
Recompression is a necessary procedure in scuba diving, utilized as a treatment for decompression illness (DCI) or to prevent decompression sickness (DCS). Recompression involves subjecting a diver to pressure after an ascent from a dive. While it is preferably done in a recompression chamber, occasionally in-water recompression may be employed. This entry will provide an in-depth overview of the recompression process, the medical conditions it addresses, and the advantages and risks associated with its use in scuba diving.