What is one of the main risks associated with diving too deep?

Diving too deep presents several physiological challenges, and decompression sickness is one of the most significant risks associated with deep diving. As a diver descends, the pressure increases, causing nitrogen from the air we breathe to dissolve into the body’s tissues. When ascending too quickly and failing to allow sufficient time for the body to off-gas the nitrogen, bubbles can form in the bloodstream or tissues. This condition, known as decompression sickness or "the bends," can lead to severe pain, neurological symptoms, or even life-threatening complications.

While hyperthermia, ear barotrauma, and nitrogen narcosis are also considerations when diving, they do not specifically relate to the risks of deep diving in the same capacity. Hyperthermia deals with temperature regulation and is less frequently a concern in underwater environments, while ear barotrauma relates to pressure changes affecting the eustachian tubes. Nitrogen narcosis, although a risk at great depths, typically occurs due to the narcotic effects of nitrogen, rather than the critical physiological effects seen in decompression sickness. Thus, decompression sickness is categorized as one of the primary and life-threatening risks associated with deep diving.