Final answer:
The diver descends at 72 feet per minute, so after 12 minutes, the diver will have reached a depth of 864 feet. Managing ascent is crucial to prevent decompression sickness.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine the depth of the diver after 12 minutes, we simply multiply the rate of descent by the amount of time the diver has been descending. In this case, the diver is descending at 72 feet per minute. Over 12 minutes, the diver will have descended:
72 ft/min × 12 min = 864 feet
Therefore, the diver will be at a depth of 864 feet after 12 minutes. It is important for divers to manage their ascent carefully to avoid decompression sickness (DCS), which can occur if ascent is too rapid and dissolved gases form bubbles in the blood. Divers use various techniques such as decompression stops and breathing compressed air to manage pressure changes and maintain safe diving practices.