What is the primary reason for conducting a safety stop during ascent?

The primary reason for conducting a safety stop during ascent is to reduce the risk of decompression sickness. When divers ascend from depth, the decreasing pressure allows absorbed gases, primarily nitrogen, to come out of solution. If a diver ascends too quickly, these gases can form bubbles in the body, leading to decompression sickness, which can be serious and even life-threatening.

A safety stop, usually performed at a depth of about 15 to 5 meters (50 to 15 feet) for three to five minutes, provides the body additional time to off-gas nitrogen, thereby significantly lowering the chances of bubble formation and ensuring a safer return to the surface. This practice is widely recognized in diving as a crucial safety measure to help minimize this risk after completing a dive.

While enjoying the view or adjusting equipment can occur during this time, they are secondary to the critical function of preventing decompression sickness. Additionally, signaling other divers does not serve as the primary purpose of the safety stop, although communication is important in maintaining overall safety during dives.