What can be affected by the depth of a dive?

The correct answer is rooted in the understanding of how depth influences various physiological and environmental factors during a dive.

At greater depths, the amount of water above a diver increases, which can change the way light penetrates the water and thus affect visibility. Turbidity, the presence of particulate matter, and the angle of sunlight can all change with depth, meaning visibility can be significantly compromised as a diver descends.

Additionally, buoyancy is greatly impacted by depth. The deeper a diver goes, the greater the surrounding water pressure becomes. This increased pressure can compress the air in a diver’s buoyancy control device (BCD) and in their lungs, altering buoyancy control.

Moreover, nitrogen absorption is influenced by depth due to the increased pressure. According to Henry's Law, the solubility of gases in liquids is directly proportional to the pressure. As a diver descends, more nitrogen is absorbed into the body due to higher pressure levels, increasing the risks associated with decompression sickness if a diver ascends too quickly.

Therefore, both visibility and the physiological effects of buoyancy and nitrogen absorption are crucial factors impacted by dive depth, confirming that the correct choice encompasses all these effects.