[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Originally Posted by ken0042

So, are you saying that once a scuba diver surfaces all excess nitrogen leaves his body? If that were to be the case, then why am I bothering with dive tables when I scuba dive?

Nitrogen Narcosis and the bends are two totally different things.
Nitrogen Narcosis is a state much like drunkeness that is brough on by nitrogen in your blood being at high pressure (your blood is also at this pressure). THe bends (which you use dive tables for) is caused by this nitrogen bubling out of your blood when you surface to fast. Blood can dissolve more nitrogen at higher pressures, so when you relive that pressure the nitrogen bubbles out and kills you.