What risk does rapid ascent from depth pose to divers?

Rapid ascent from depth poses a significant risk of decompression sickness (often referred to as "the bends"). This condition occurs when a diver ascends too quickly from deep water, causing dissolved gases, primarily nitrogen, to come out of solution and form bubbles in the body's tissues and bloodstream. During a dive, the body absorbs increased amounts of nitrogen due to the increased pressure at greater depths. If a diver ascends too quickly, the rapid reduction in pressure does not allow for these gases to be safely eliminated through exhalation, leading to various symptoms such as joint pain, dizziness, difficulty breathing, and in severe cases, can be life-threatening.

In contrast to decompression sickness, increased buoyancy, hypercapnia (excess carbon dioxide in the bloodstream), and thermal shock do not directly link to the risks associated with rapid ascent from depth in the same way. Increased buoyancy can happen due to the expansion of air in a diver's buoyancy control device but is not a direct physiological consequence of rapid ascent. Hypercapnia arises from inadequate ventilation or breathing challenges rather than from rapid ascent, while thermal shock is related to sudden changes in water temperature and not specifically to diving ascent rates. Thus, the primary concern during rapid ascents is the risk