What is a safety stop and why is it performed?

A safety stop is a pause made at a shallow depth, typically around 15 to 20 feet, during the ascent from a dive. This stop is performed to allow divers to off-gas excess nitrogen that has built up in their bodies during the dive. While deeper dives expose divers to greater pressure, the body absorbs more nitrogen from the breathing gas. As a diver ascends, the pressure decreases, and if the diver ascends too quickly without allowing time for the body to eliminate this excess nitrogen, it can lead to decompression sickness, or "the bends." Performing a safety stop provides a necessary safety margin, facilitating a gradual release of nitrogen and minimizing the risk of injury.

The other options, while related to diving practices, do not address the primary purpose of a safety stop. Checking equipment is important but is typically done at the surface or during a planned stop. Equalizing ear pressure relates to managing sinus and ear barotrauma during descent and ascent, not directly to nitrogen elimination. Socializing underwater has no safety aspect and does not pertain to the need for nitrogen off-gassing, making it unrelated to the essential function of a safety stop.