What are the physical effects of pressure on the body during diving?

Increased pressure during diving significantly impacts the body's physiological processes, particularly with gas exchange. As a diver descends, the surrounding water exerts greater atmospheric pressure, which influences the way gases behave within the body, particularly in the lungs and bloodstream.

Under increased pressure, the solubility of gases in blood and other tissues increases, which can lead to higher amounts of dissolved gases in the body, such as nitrogen and, in some scenarios, oxygen. This alteration can result in various gas exchange issues, most notably decompression sickness or "the bends," if a diver ascends too quickly and the gases that were absorbed under pressure begin to form bubbles in the body's tissues and bloodstream.

Understanding this process is crucial for safe diving practices, as a diver must be aware of how pressure affects their bodily functions, including the need to follow proper ascent rates and to utilize decompression stops when appropriate to allow gases to safely be eliminated from their system.