Which of the following increases the risk of DCS during diving?

Choosing to take cold showers after diving increases the risk of decompression sickness (DCS) due to the physiological effects on blood circulation and gas release from the body. After a dive, especially one involving depths where nitrogen is absorbed into your body tissues, the warm environment you were in underwater allows for slower gas exchanges. Cold showers can cause vasoconstriction, which restricts blood flow and may lead to bubbles forming in the bloodstream, increasing the chance of DCS.

While warm water dives, frequent dive breaks, and using a dive suit have different impacts on a diver’s safety, they do not inherently increase the risk of DCS in the way that the temperature change from a cold shower can. Warm water dives are generally safer as they help with maintaining body heat and regular tissue gas exchanges. Frequent dive breaks are essential for allowing your body to off-gas accumulated nitrogen, reducing DCS risk. Likewise, using a dive suit offers thermal protection and can also help minimize the risks associated with DCS by maintaining body heat and assisting in buoyancy control.