What is a common symptom of decompression sickness after a dive?

Decompression sickness, also known as "the bends," commonly presents with symptoms such as joint pain and difficulty breathing due to the formation of nitrogen bubbles in body tissues and the bloodstream after ascending too quickly from a dive. When divers are underwater at depths greater than 10 meters (33 feet), the increased pressure allows more nitrogen to dissolve in the body. If a diver ascends rapidly, the reduction in pressure can cause that nitrogen to form bubbles, leading to various physiological effects.

Joint pain is often reported as one of the most common symptoms, sometimes referred to as "the bends" because of the intense pain that can occur in the joints. Difficulty breathing can occur due to the bubbles affecting the lungs or trapped gas within the bloodstream, causing respiratory complications. Thus, the presence of joint pain alongside breathing difficulties clearly indicates the conditions associated with decompression sickness.

In contrast, the other options do not align with the symptoms of decompression sickness. For instance, vision improvements, increased energy levels, and temporary loss of hearing do not directly correlate as common effects of decompression sickness after a dive. Therefore, the combination of joint pain and difficulty breathing accurately represents a typical manifestation of this condition.