Oh N₂o

MaudlinMutantMollusk: No... no, I don't recall ever wondering about that at all

Then it's likely you're not a scuba diver. I've wondered about this since I got certified.

Aquatic mammals wonder why they don't get the bends?

They just get the spraints

How about because they don't use scuba gear or breath compressed air?

/Science, how do it work?

I have not, but I have wondered why they don't get the runs.

Just ask this guy

HotIgneous Intruder: How about because they don't use scuba gear or breath compressed air?

/Science, how do it work?

Perhaps you should do some reading. There are many causes for decompression sickness. Breathing compressed air is a factor (hence the use of nitrox) but not a cause. Depth and time at depth are the primary factors. All responsible recreation divers plan their dives around their Emergency Ascent limit. Which basically means how long you can stay at a given depth and still be able to swim straight to the surface without getting the bends.

Hell, you can get decompression sickness without even being under water.

Link (new window)

s1ugg0: HotIgneous Intruder: How about because they don't use scuba gear or breath compressed air?

/Science, how do it work?

Perhaps you should do some reading. There are many causes for decompression sickness. Breathing compressed air is a factor (hence the use of nitrox) but not a cause. Depth and time at depth are the primary factors. All responsible recreation divers plan their dives around their Emergency Ascent limit. Which basically means how long you can stay at a given depth and still be able to swim straight to the surface without getting the bends.

Hell, you can get decompression sickness without even being under water.

Link (new window)

Fighter pilots usually are grounded for a couple, three days after getting any kind of dental work done, particularly fillings. (having your filling explode out of your mouth due to trapped gas expanding becuase you just ascended 10k feet in 60 seconds makes it hard to focus on flying)

It's not decompression sickness per se but it's the same basic cause.

If you ever get the chance to tour an altitude chamber, do it. It's pretty cool what flight and altitude effects can do to the body and mind ...

We see avascular necrosis in the vertebrae of mosasaurs, so it's really no surprise to find it in extant animals too.

scottydoesntknow: HotIgneous Intruder: How about because they don't use scuba gear or breath compressed air?

/Science, how do it work?

This makes no sense. Are you saying humans don't get the bends because we do use scuba gear/compressed air? Or since they (aquatic mammals) don't use scuba gear, they don't get the bends? Are you answering the question, or tacking on the answer? Did you even read the answer before answering the question?

Humans get the bends because they spend time BREATHING underwater while their body is exposed to high pressure. This allows a considerable amount of N2 to accumulate in the body. As long as you rise slowly (and keep breathing) that absorbed N2 can exit the same way it arrived. Aquatic mammals hold their breath, so they dive with only the nitrogen in their blood that accumulates at sea level. Humans can free-dive to considerable depths WITHOUT worring about the bends. However, there are other risks due to pressure which impact all living things.

madgonad: scottydoesntknow: HotIgneous Intruder: How about because they don't use scuba gear or breath compressed air?

/Science, how do it work?

This makes no sense. Are you saying humans don't get the bends because we do use scuba gear/compressed air? Or since they (aquatic mammals) don't use scuba gear, they don't get the bends? Are you answering the question, or tacking on the answer? Did you even read the answer before answering the question?

Humans get the bends because they spend time BREATHING underwater while their body is exposed to high pressure. This allows a considerable amount of N2 to accumulate in the body. As long as you rise slowly (and keep breathing) that absorbed N2 can exit the same way it arrived. Aquatic mammals hold their breath, so they dive with only the nitrogen in their blood that accumulates at sea level. Humans can free-dive to considerable depths WITHOUT worring about the bends. However, there are other risks due to pressure which impact all living things.

Yep, came here to say this. Free-divers can go to depths that would instantly kill a recreational scuba diver breathing standard air. Even tec divers using tri-mix can't make it to the depth that the depth free-divers pull off (120m) and when they come close, they need hours of decompression stops on the way back up. Free-divers can bounce without any trouble from the bends.

/diving to 130' tomorrow
//divemaster training

MrSteve007: /diving to 130' tomorrow
//divemaster training



/meeting a nurse specializing in hyperbaric medicine this week for dinner, will learn more