What is the primary reason for monitoring decompression times?

Monitoring decompression times is essential primarily to ensure a safe ascent during a dive. This involves adhering to specific timeframes at various depths to allow nitrogen absorbed by the body while diving to be released safely and gradually. Ascending too quickly can lead to dangerous conditions such as decompression sickness, commonly known as "the bends," which occurs when nitrogen bubbles form in the body due to rapid changes in pressure.

While managing air consumption, minimizing fatigue, and avoiding underwater hazards are important aspects of diving, they do not directly address the critical need to manage the body's exposure to pressure changes. Ensuring a safe ascent is fundamental to protecting the diver's health, and monitoring decompression times is one of the key practices that supports this safety protocol.