safety stop

A safety stop is a brief, controlled pause made at around 15 feet (5 meters) depth during a scuba dive before surfacing. Its purpose is to allow excess nitrogen, absorbed during the dive, to gradually release from the body, reducing the risk of decompression sickness (the bends). Typically lasting 3 to 5 minutes, this stop enhances diver safety by promoting a more gradual ascent and ensuring nitrogen levels are safer before surfacing. It’s an important standard practice for divers to do even when they have followed no-decompression limits.