helium use in diving

Helium is used in diving, especially for deep or long-duration dives, to replace nitrogen in the breathing mix. At high pressures, nitrogen can cause nitrogen narcosis, impairing judgment, and can form dangerous bubbles in the body during ascent. Helium, being less narcotic and more inert, helps divers breathe safer at depth. It also reduces the risk of decompression sickness, or "the bends," by minimizing nitrogen absorption. However, helium's properties—such as heat conduction—require careful management to prevent issues like cold burns. Overall, helium enables divers to explore greater depths safely by mitigating nitrogen-related risks.