What risk does a diver face if they ascend too quickly?

When a diver ascends too quickly, the primary risk faced is the development of decompression sickness, also known as "the bends," or potential barotrauma. During a dive, the body absorbs nitrogen from the breathing gas under higher pressure. If ascension occurs rapidly, the pressure decreases too quickly for the nitrogen to safely escape the body, leading to the formation of bubbles in the tissues and bloodstream. These bubbles can cause pain, joint issues, and potentially life-threatening conditions depending on where they form, such as in the eyes or the spinal cord.

Barotrauma, on the other hand, refers to the physical damage inflicted on tissues, such as the lungs or middle ear, due to the expansion of air or gases in those spaces when pressure decreases too rapidly. This can lead to serious injuries, including lung overexpansion injuries.

Both risks highlight the importance of following ascension guidelines and making safety stops to ensure that gas exchange occurs properly and the body's nitrogen levels can normalize gradually, minimizing the risk of severe complications.