When wearing dive watches, divers can avoid air embolisms
in the lungs. These embolisms arise because the weight of the water, as well as
the weight of the atmosphere above the water, allows the lungs to hold more
air. If divers surface too quickly without controlling the ascent,
the expanding air in the lungs will cause the lungs to over-expand and
ultimately rupture. These ruptures can release air bubbles into the bloodstream
that can block blood to the brain and other vital organs. A good Diving Watch
will help the diver ascend at the proper rate and assist her in remembering to
exhale properly.
Similarly, diving watches assist divers in avoiding the
bends, or decompression sickness. This problem exists when nitrogen builds up
in body tissues, possibly causing dizziness, blindness, paralysis, or
convulsions.
With a dive watch, divers can control the time spent
underwater. Also, by monitoring the speed of ascent divers
can avoid many life-threatening situations.
Dive watches serve one other great purpose. Whether
someone is a diver or not, a good dive watch tends to really look cool on anyone's wrist and it is often a great conversation piece.