A SCUBA device significantly increases what risk factor?

The use of a SCUBA device significantly increases the risk factor associated with decompression sickness (DCS), which is the correct answer. When divers descend to significant depths, they inhale compressed air that contains nitrogen, which becomes absorbed into their body tissues under high pressure. As a diver ascends, if the ascent is not managed properly—particularly if they surface too quickly—the nitrogen that has been absorbed can form bubbles in the bloodstream and tissues, leading to DCS.

This condition can result in serious health complications, including joint pain, paralysis, or even death, making it crucial for divers to be aware of the proper ascent rates and safety stops to minimize this risk.

In contrast, while SCUBA diving does introduce risks related to hypoxia, drowning, and equipment failure, these factors exist at baseline levels and are not significantly elevated solely due to the use of SCUBA equipment in the same way that DCS is. Hypoxia can occur if a diver runs out of breathable gas or descends too deep without proper equipment, drowning can happen from various causes such as equipment malfunction or panic, and equipment failure risks generally depend on maintenance and operational procedures. Thus, DCS is uniquely tied to the physiological effects of breathing compressed gases during dives, making