Final answer:
When a diver ascends too rapidly, they can develop decompression sickness (DCS), also known as 'the bends.' The condition occurs when nitrogen bubbles form in the blood due to the rapid decrease in pressure. To prevent DCS, divers should ascend slowly or make decompression stops.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a diver ascends too rapidly, it can lead to a condition called decompression sickness (DCS), also known as 'the bends.' This occurs because as the diver comes up to the surface, the ambient pressure decreases, causing dissolved nitrogen to be released from the blood as bubbles. The bubbles can block blood vessels and cause various symptoms such as rashes, joint pain, paralysis, and even death.
To prevent DCS, divers must ascend slowly or make decompression stops at various depths during their ascent. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy in decompression chambers may be used to treat divers with DCS.