Scuba Diving Safety: Why Holding Your Breath Underwater is Risky

Question
Hey, hows it going? I am just wondering why one should not hold thier breath under water while breathing from an air tank. ....I know I do not know much about scuba diving but would like to learn


Thanks

Answer
Hi,

There is nothing wrong with holding one's breath underwater.  The problem is ascending while holding one's breath after having breathed from compressed air.  If you fill a balloon with air from a tank, at the bottom of the swimming pool, if you release it, it will expand as it goes up, and will likely pop.  You don't want your lungs to 'pop,' which is called a pulmonary embolism.  It is very serious.  People are taught to never hold their breath while diving to eliminate this risk.  In common practice, especially in advanced diving, one does nearly hold ones' breath, but in a safe way, which is achieved by experience and training.  It is more of a breath control than a hold, actually.

Hope that helps!
James