How can divers prevent decompression sickness?

Preventing decompression sickness, commonly referred to as "the bends," is crucial for divers to ensure their safety during and after a dive. Ascending slowly and following dive tables is a well-established practice that helps manage the effects of pressure changes on the body.

During a dive, a diver's body absorbs nitrogen from the air they breathe, and when they ascend too quickly, the rapid decrease in pressure can cause this absorbed nitrogen to form bubbles in the body. This can lead to various symptoms, which can be severe and even life-threatening. By ascending slowly—typically following a recommended ascent rate—and adhering to dive tables or dive computers, divers can allow their bodies to release nitrogen safely and gradually through controlled decompression stops. This minimizes the risk of nitrogen bubble formation and helps prevent decompression sickness.

The other options associated with this question do not effectively contribute to avoiding decompression sickness and may actually lead to increased risks.