What Is an Emergency Decompression Stop

A decompression stop is a pause in a diver’s ascent made to allow the body to expel dissolved gases primarily nitrogen in the blood. Without decompression stops, these gases would expand, turning into bubbles and causing decompression sickness

How do you do decompression stops?

The ideal way to make a good decompression stop is to stay in the horizontal position for as long as possible. In this position, your body slows down the water column and helps you stay at the right depth. The extended position also allows the entire body to be subjected to the same pressure.

What are decompression stops in diving?

A decompression stop is the period a diver must spend at a relatively shallow constant depth during ascent after a dive to safely eliminate absorbed inert gases from the body tissues to avoid decompression sickness.