Dive Equipment FAQs
What are the bends?
The bends is the colloquial name for the illness known as decompression sickness. It occurs when a diver ascends from the depths too quickly. It is very painful, and can even be deadly if not properly treated.
What causes decompression sickness?
As you descend lower beneath the surface; the ambient pressure on your body increases. To breathe, the air you inhale must be at the same pressure as the external atmosphere. This means that the air is under higher pressure when you inhale it far below the surface. The nitrogen in the air acts like the carbon dioxide in soda, at high pressures it becomes soluble in your blood. As the pressure is lowered, the nitrogen bubbles out, just like when you open a can of soda. If this is not done gradually, it can kill you.
How do you avoid decompression sickness?Decompression tables show a diver at what depths they should pause, and for how long. These depths are calculated to allow the nitrogen to be released into your lungs as it gradually phases out of your blood, rather than bursting in your veins. Following these tables will ensure that you don’t get decompression sickness following a dive.
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