What complication arises when a diver must do air breaks during oxygen stops?

When a diver performs air breaks during oxygen stops, it indeed results in lengthened decompression time required. This is because transitioning back to air from pure oxygen introduces the need to off-gas residual nitrogen, which is a key factor in preventing decompression sickness. The body absorbs nitrogen during the dive, and when a diver uses a mixture of gas like pure oxygen, it significantly affects the partial pressures of other gases involved. Air breaks can disrupt the efficiency of off-gassing nitrogen at deeper depths, thus requiring additional time at shallower depths to safely eliminate the nitrogen absorbed during the dive.

Understanding this context is crucial for divers, as managing decompression schedules effectively minimizes the risk of complications associated with rapid ascent and inadequate off-gassing. The necessity of adhering to proper decompression procedures becomes even more essential, especially when air breaks are involved.