What does the term "saturation diving" refer to?

The term "saturation diving" refers specifically to a technique for living in pressurized environments, particularly when deep-sea diving is involved. This method allows divers to live and work at deep depths for extended periods without suffering from the effects of decompression sickness, also known as "the bends."

In saturation diving, the divers are kept in a pressurized habitat on the surface or near the sea floor, and they breathe a mix of gases that reduces the risk of nitrogen narcosis and other issues associated with high-pressure environments. This allows them to spend long durations in the water while only requiring decompression when returning to the surface, which can be done relatively quickly compared to traditional diving methods.

This process is fundamentally different from diving with minimal gear or focusing on shallow waters, which do not involve the complexities and necessitate of saturation techniques. The diving focused on short durations does not align with the concept of saturation diving, as it is designed for extended tasks under pressure rather than brief excursions. Understanding saturation diving is crucial for anyone involved in deep-sea operations, as it significantly enhances safety and operational efficiency.