What is the primary reason divers experience decompression illness?

The primary reason divers experience decompression illness is due to diver error, which encompasses a range of mistakes or oversights during a dive that can lead to improper ascent rates or inadequate decompression stops. Decompression illness occurs when a diver ascends too quickly, resulting in nitrogen bubbles forming in the body as pressure decreases. This process can cause symptoms like joint pain, dizziness, or even more severe neurological issues.

Diver error can include factors such as not adhering to established dive tables or computers, not allowing enough time for decompression, or failing to plan a dive properly. All of these can lead to an increased risk of nitrogen saturation and ultimately, decompression sickness. Understanding this helps divers recognize the critical importance of following safe diving practices, managing their ascent rates, and making necessary stops to allow nitrogen to safely off-gas from their bodies. In contrast, factors like lack of fitness, equipment failure, or poor buoyancy control may contribute to safety risks during a dive but are not the primary cause of decompression illness itself.