What is a potential risk associated with deep diving?

Decompression sickness, commonly known as "the bends," is a significant risk associated with deep diving due to the effects of pressure on the body as divers ascend from deeper depths. As a diver descends, the pressure increases, causing nitrogen from the air we breathe to dissolve into the body’s tissues and bloodstream. If a diver ascends too quickly, the dissolved nitrogen can form bubbles in the body, leading to various health problems ranging from joint pain to more severe issues like paralysis or even death.

Understanding the need for controlled ascents and possible decompression stops is critical for minimizing the risk of decompression sickness. This is particularly important in deep diving scenarios where pressure changes are more pronounced, making the risk of nitrogen bubbles forming greater when rapid ascents occur.

Other options present risks, but they are either not as closely associated with deep diving or pertain to different scenarios. For instance, shallow water blackouts typically occur in shallow water environments due to hypoxia, while increased skin temperature and visibility issues generally do not relate directly to the hazards faced during deep dives.