In decompression risk management, which action is included?

• A. Plan decompression stops, use appropriate breathing gas, and maintain controlled ascents.
• B. Lift all decompression requirements
• C. Increase ascent rate
• D. Skip gas planning to save time

Answer: (A)

Decompression risk management relies on giving your body time to offgas inert nitrogen as you ascend, which is achieved by three integrated actions: planning and executing decompression stops, using an appropriate breathing gas for the dive profile, and maintaining a slow, controlled ascent. Decompression stops provide scheduled pauses where offgassing can occur at safe depths, preventing rapid bubble formation. Choosing the right breathing gas ensures you stay within safe oxygen and inert gas partial pressures throughout the climb and deco phases, enabling effective offloading without oxygen toxicity or hypoxia. A controlled ascent rate prevents sudden pressure changes that could drive bubble growth and worsen decompression sickness risk. Skipping gas planning, ignoring decompression requirements, or ascending too quickly disrupts these safeguards and markedly increases the chance of decompression injuries.