What condition can occur if a diver stays too deep for too long without ascending properly?

Staying at depth for an extended period without a proper ascent can lead to decompression illness, often referred to as "the bends." This condition occurs when a diver ascends too quickly after spending time under high pressure. At greater depths, nitrogen from the breathing gas dissolves into the body's tissues due to increased pressure. If a diver ascends rapidly without allowing adequate time for nitrogen to safely off-gas, nitrogen bubbles can form in the tissues and bloodstream, causing a range of symptoms that can be severe or life-threatening.

Decompression illness can manifest in various ways, such as joint pain, dizziness, difficulty breathing, and in severe cases, paralysis or death. It underscores the importance of following safe diving practices, including monitoring bottom time, ensuring proper ascent rates, and utilizing safety stops during ascent.

Other conditions mentioned, like nitrogen narcosis, occur due to the effects of nitrogen at depth and do not relate to the duration at depth, while carbon dioxide poisoning is related to the gas buildup within the body, typically due to inadequate ventilation rather than depth. Breath-hold blackout pertains to the loss of consciousness from lack of oxygen during breath-hold diving, which is not linked to staying too deep for too long. Thus, the emphasis on