What happens to ambient pressure as a diver increases depth?

As a diver descends into the water, ambient pressure increases due to the weight of the water above them. For every 10 meters of depth, the pressure increases by approximately 1 atmosphere, which is a fundamental principle in dive physics. At sea level, the pressure is about 1 atmosphere, and as you go deeper, this pressure adds to the existing atmospheric pressure, resulting in a total pressure of about 2 atmospheres at 10 meters, 3 atmospheres at 20 meters, and so forth.

Understanding this principle is crucial for divers because it affects factors like buoyancy and gas laws related to breathing. The consistent relationship between depth and pressure is a key aspect of dive safety, influencing decisions around ascent rates and safety stops to avoid issues such as decompression sickness.