Diving

[Senter Cove Guy]

Originally Posted by gtxrider

Can the experts help on this question? Can you get the bends coming up to fast in shallow water? We were told that by our diving instructor.

Unlikely because the bends is related to the amount of nitrogen in the bloodstream. Diving depth and the related pressure that exists determines how much nitrogen is absorbed by the blood. So it's more a factor of how deep you dive and how long you are there that controls how much nitrogen is in your bloodstream.

However, the general rule is don't ascend any faster than 30 feet per minute and either obey your dive computer when it says STOP at calculated decompression stops or, if not using a computer, plan your dive and dive your plan.

One thing you don't want to do in any depth of water, when breathing compressed air, is hold your breath when ascending. A depth change of only 4 feet is enough to cause the compressed air in your lungs to expand and burst them which would be deadly.