What physiological changes should divers be aware of when diving?

When divers descend into the water, they experience changes in pressure, which can significantly affect the absorption of nitrogen by their bodies. As divers go deeper, the surrounding pressure increases, causing nitrogen, which is a component of the air we breathe, to dissolve into the body tissues. This phenomenon is governed by Henry's Law, which states that the amount of gas that dissolves in a liquid is proportional to the pressure of that gas above the liquid.

As the diver ascends, the pressure decreases, and if the nitrogen is not released from the body at a controlled rate, it can form bubbles, leading to decompression sickness, often referred to as "the bends." This condition can cause serious health issues, including pain and even life-threatening situations. Thus, understanding how pressure changes lead to nitrogen absorption is crucial for safe diving practices, including proper ascent rates and safety stops.

While the other options involve important factors related to diving, they do not pertain to the direct physiological changes affecting the diver's body in the same way that pressure changes and nitrogen absorption do. Changes in water temperature can influence buoyancy, but they do not directly impact the body's absorption of gases. Light levels and underwater sound affect visibility and communication, respectively, but these are environmental