What can excessive nitrogen lead to when scuba diving?

Excessive nitrogen during scuba diving is primarily associated with decompression sickness, often referred to as "the bends." When divers ascend too quickly, nitrogen that has been absorbed into the body's tissues under high pressure is released too rapidly. This can form bubbles in the bloodstream and tissues, leading to a range of symptoms from joint pain to more severe neurological effects.

Nitrogen is a primary component of the air we breathe underwater, and as divers descend, they breathe more nitrogen due to increased pressure. If divers exceed safe limits of nitrogen absorption without allowing adequate time for safer ascent and decompression, the risk of decompression sickness significantly increases.

The other options do not accurately reflect the physiological risks associated with high levels of nitrogen while scuba diving. Adequate oxygen supply and stable buoyancy are not directly impacted by nitrogen levels, and while increased pressure occurs with depth, it is not a direct result of excessive nitrogen; instead, it is a natural consequence of being underwater.