Page 262 - The British Big Four

ince wall diving often in- urface signaling device is a
good safety accessory for
S Svolves diving deep, wall di-
vers should watch for the onset wall divers. When drift diving

of nitrogen narcosis, a physiolog- along the wall, the boat follows

ical condition that occurs when the bubbles and picks the divers

the nervous system is exposed up as they surface. The combina-

to increased nitrogen pressure. tion of divers surfacing at differ-

Nitrogen narcosis usually occurs ent times and places, changing

at depths of 100 feet (30 m) but currents and choppy surface

some divers may begin to feel its conditions can cause the boat

effects at shallower depths. crew to lose track of your where-

S ymptoms include lighthead- abouts. You may surface and find
edness, euphoria, mental the boat far away and the crew
not looking in your direction. In

confusion or a “drunken” feeling. this case an audible, inflatable or

These symptoms subside when reflective surface signaling de-

the diver ascends to a shallower vice, or better yet all three, will

depth. come in handy.