Scuba diving allows air to enter the lungs at the same pressure as the water at any depth. This is considerably greater than the pressure of the air at the surface. Breathing air under pressure causes changes in the gases inside the body.

Pressure differences between the lungs, ears, sinuses, blood and the surrounding environment can cause a number of scuba injuries.

These include:

• Scuba injuries directly related to decreasing pressure
• Scuba injuries directly related to increasing pressure
• Scuba injuries related to dissolved gases

Other causes of scuba accidents include:

• Exhaustion and panic
• Cave diving accidents
• Running out of air