Real-Life Communication -- Solution
There is no single best way to make people understand the danger of nitrogen narcosis.
Likewise, it's difficult to describe what the affliction feels like, says dive instructor Nelson Moore.
"At mild levels it feels like being drunk or being on a narcotic," says Moore. "You experience disorientation, even euphoria. But it can kill you."
Essentially, nitrogen narcosis is the name for the toxic effect of high nitrogen pressure on the brain. Symptoms include feeling dizzy, woozy, off-balance and drunk. Because of these symptoms, it's sometimes known as the "martini effect" or the "rapture of the deep."
How does a diver get nitrogen narcosis? Unfortunately, all divers will experience nitrogen narcosis if they dive deep enough. When nitrogen is breathed under extreme pressure, it acts like an anesthetic. This may cause divers to take foolish risks, including potentially fatal ones.
In order to minimize the risk of nitrogen narcosis, divers can use breathing mixtures other than compressed air and avoid diving deeper than the mixture allows. As well, they should always dive with a diving buddy who can help out in case the diver fails to ascend or runs out of air because of their confusion.