Thread: Depth trauma and survival rates.

First up, the bends, also known as decompression sickness (DCS) is caused by micro-bubbles forming in the tissues on decompression of gases as a diver ascends to the surface. The effects can sometimes be reversed by recompression therapy, but not always. Hence, in bad cases of DCS, a diver may end up in a wheel chair or worse. What we see in snapper is similar, but different. It is an expansion of gas in the swim bladder. This crushes the internal organs and often causes the stomach to pop out the mouth. Unfortunately, release (and recompression) doesn't reverse this injury. If you had a high pressure hose inserted in to your abdominal cavity and were blown up to the point that your organs were crushed, letting the air out wouldn't make it instantly better, you would most likely die.