Abstract:
This research will be an overview about what are the pressure related dangers of scuba diving, how do these dangers happen, how to prevent those dangers and the identification of their symptoms.
Introduction: A form of underwater diving with the use of breathing apparatus to breathe underwater is Scuba Diving. Great freedom of movement and longer underwater endurance can be felt for diving with their own or personal source of breathing gas which contains compressed air rather than breath hold. This means that it is different from other forms of diving where they have a wire or cord connect above ground to supply air to breathe. External propulsion is provided from the diver propulsion vehicle, or a shed pulled from the surface and a scuba diver can also move around manually by the fins attached to the feet. However, scuba divers must always have to keep in mind that scuba diving is an extreme and dangerous sport where dangers come from the effect of the increased water pressure of sea environment, making it potentially life threatening. Dangers can also be from the sea life and faulty equipment. Diving with pressure: The seawater, which contains salt that makes it heavier than normal water, is denser than the air and exerts more pressure. …show more content…
Thus, as we descent, the pressure surely will increase. Our air-filled spaces like the mouth, ears, para-nasal sinuses and lungs will be exposed to danger. This is because the air in air-fill spaces will expand when we descend.
Pressure increase with depth
Pressure will be exerted on a diver’s body by his own weight. The deeper he dives, the more water above him, thus having greater pressure exerted. Total Pressure = P(water above him) + P(air above him)
Every 33 feet of seawater = 1 ATA of pressure
Water pressure compresses air
The air in a diver’s body air spaces and diving gear would be compressed as pressure increase and vice versa. Air would compress according to Boyle’s Law shown below.
Boyle’s Law: Air Volume = 1/Pressure 4 basic aspects of diving affected by pressure: 1. Equalization (can also be felt when swimming in pool) As written above, pressure increase causes the body’s air spaces to compress. Those air spaces includes lungs, mask and ear which will be sucked into those air spaces, causing injury and pain. This compressing of air creates a negative pressure. However, on ascent, the vice versa happens. Decreasing pressure causes the diver’s air spaces to expand. The air spaces in his lungs and ears will experience a positive pressure as they will exceed the limit with air. A diver’s eardrum and lung can burst due to the over expand in the worst scenario. Thus, a diver should never, ever hold his breath under water. DANGER: Ear barotrauma Our lungs, sinuses, ears, and dental roots are air-filled spaces of our body that has tissues that can be damaged if the pressure between the surrounding water and air-filled spaces of our body cannot be equalized by our body. Barotrauma is the name of the injury. Water pressure increases when we descend. Our body’s air volume will decrease. Injury problems like ruptured eardrum and sinus pain can be caused. In addition, water pressure decreases when we ascend. The air will then expand and make it hard to breathe as the air sacs in our lungs got ruptured.
This research will be an overview about what are the pressure related dangers of scuba diving, how do these dangers happen, how to prevent those dangers and the identification of their symptoms.
Introduction: A form of underwater diving with the use of breathing apparatus to breathe underwater is Scuba Diving. Great freedom of movement and longer underwater endurance can be felt for diving with their own or personal source of breathing gas which contains compressed air rather than breath hold. This means that it is different from other forms of diving where they have a wire or cord connect above ground to supply air to breathe. External propulsion is provided from the diver propulsion vehicle, or a shed pulled from the surface and a scuba diver can also move around manually by the fins attached to the feet. However, scuba divers must always have to keep in mind that scuba diving is an extreme and dangerous sport where dangers come from the effect of the increased water pressure of sea environment, making it potentially life threatening. Dangers can also be from the sea life and faulty equipment. Diving with pressure: The seawater, which contains salt that makes it heavier than normal water, is denser than the air and exerts more pressure. …show more content…
Thus, as we descent, the pressure surely will increase. Our air-filled spaces like the mouth, ears, para-nasal sinuses and lungs will be exposed to danger. This is because the air in air-fill spaces will expand when we descend.
Pressure increase with depth
Pressure will be exerted on a diver’s body by his own weight. The deeper he dives, the more water above him, thus having greater pressure exerted. Total Pressure = P(water above him) + P(air above him)
Every 33 feet of seawater = 1 ATA of pressure
Water pressure compresses air
The air in a diver’s body air spaces and diving gear would be compressed as pressure increase and vice versa. Air would compress according to Boyle’s Law shown below.
Boyle’s Law: Air Volume = 1/Pressure 4 basic aspects of diving affected by pressure: 1. Equalization (can also be felt when swimming in pool) As written above, pressure increase causes the body’s air spaces to compress. Those air spaces includes lungs, mask and ear which will be sucked into those air spaces, causing injury and pain. This compressing of air creates a negative pressure. However, on ascent, the vice versa happens. Decreasing pressure causes the diver’s air spaces to expand. The air spaces in his lungs and ears will experience a positive pressure as they will exceed the limit with air. A diver’s eardrum and lung can burst due to the over expand in the worst scenario. Thus, a diver should never, ever hold his breath under water. DANGER: Ear barotrauma Our lungs, sinuses, ears, and dental roots are air-filled spaces of our body that has tissues that can be damaged if the pressure between the surrounding water and air-filled spaces of our body cannot be equalized by our body. Barotrauma is the name of the injury. Water pressure increases when we descend. Our body’s air volume will decrease. Injury problems like ruptured eardrum and sinus pain can be caused. In addition, water pressure decreases when we ascend. The air will then expand and make it hard to breathe as the air sacs in our lungs got ruptured.