What are "safety stops" in diving?

Safety stops are brief pauses at shallower depths taken during ascent to allow divers to off-gas nitrogen absorbed during the dive. When divers descend and spend time at depth, their bodies absorb nitrogen from the compressed air in their tanks. As they ascend, particularly if they do so rapidly, there is a risk that excess nitrogen can form bubbles in the tissues or bloodstream, which could lead to decompression sickness, commonly known as "the bends."

The safety stop typically occurs at a depth of around 5 meters (15 feet) for about 3 to 5 minutes. This pause allows the body time to release built-up nitrogen safely before reaching the surface. Incorporating safety stops into diving practices significantly enhances diver safety and helps in mitigating the risks of decompression illness.

While the other options provided refer to various aspects of diving, they do not accurately describe the function or importance of safety stops in the context of diver health and safety.