What is the purpose of a safety stop in diving?

The purpose of a safety stop in diving is to decrease the risk of decompression illness. When a diver ascends from a depth, they experience changes in pressure that can cause nitrogen bubbles to form in the body if they rise too quickly. A safety stop typically involves pausing at a depth of around 15-20 feet for several minutes during ascent. This allows excess nitrogen that has accumulated in the tissues due to the increased pressure at depth to be released safely and gradually into the bloodstream and then expelled through the lungs.

This practice helps mitigate the chances of developing decompression sickness, which can occur when a diver ascends too quickly and nitrogen bubbles form in the body. While checking equipment functionality, increasing dive duration, and monitoring marine life are important aspects of diving, they do not directly address the physiological risks associated with rapid ascent. Thus, the focus of the safety stop is primarily on reducing the risk of encountering decompression illness.