Boyle´s Law

If you are thinking seriously on scubadiving you should understand Boyle´s law, and the reason for it is because this law of physics will affect your dives... and you.

Why don´t we start by stating the law? At constant temperature, the volume of a gas varies inversely with pressure, while the density of a gas varies directly with pressure. What this means is: Air cavities in your body -like sinuses and ears- and the ones in your diving gear -eg.; the BCD (buoyancy control device)- will be affected on it´s volume and density as depth changes.

When the depth increases the sorounding pressure too, air volume decreases and its density increases. On the contrary, when depth decreases the pressure does too, so volume increases and density decreases.

But, how in the world this does affect you?:

a) During descend, unless you equalize the pressure from outside with the inner pressure in your ear, it's going to hurt! You achieve pressure equalization by sending air into the middle ear as you descend but be sure to make this before discomfort is felt.

b) In order to control your buoyancy -flotation- along the dive, you must adjust your BCD -buoyancy control device- volume according to depth changes -don't worry, we train you to do this easily-. For example, during your ascend, you have to deflate the BCD from time to time in order to release the expanding air from it, to mantain control of your buoyancy.

This are just two examples of how does the Boyle´s law affect your dive and your body.