What is the painful condition experienced by divers who ascend too quickly called?

Decompression sickness, often referred to as "the bends," occurs when divers ascend too quickly after spending time at depths under water. During a dive, the body absorbs nitrogen from the compressed air we breathe. If a diver ascends too rapidly, the surrounding pressure drops quickly. This can cause dissolved nitrogen in the body to form bubbles, leading to various painful symptoms and potentially serious complications.

The symptoms can include joint pain, dizziness, respiratory issues, and even life-threatening conditions if not treated promptly. The mechanism behind this condition involves the physics of gas solubility; as pressure decreases, gases that were dissolved in the body can come out of solution and form bubbles in tissues or blood vessels.

Understanding the physiology of diving and the importance of slowly ascending can help prevent this condition. Proper safety practices, including adhering to ascent rates and performing safety stops, are crucial for divers to avoid decompression sickness.