Scuba diving is actually very safe and very enjoyable when all the proper procedures are followed. It is one of the most fulfilling experiences one may have. However if can be very dangerous and can be deadly if the proper diving procedures are not followed. Scuba diving sometimes gets a bad reputation due to the mishaps of some divers who do not follow the proper steps or those who are not properly trained. Many people wrongly presume that the air in the scuba cylinder for recreational diving is pure oxygen, but that is not the case. Oxygen is actually poisonous after a certain depth due to pressure. Because of the nitrogen in the compressed air, divers need to be very careful when diving to greater depths, as nitrogen narcosis can occur, which has the same effect as excessive alcohol. This is easily solved by going back up to shallower waters. A more serious effect of nitrogen is known as Caisson’s Disease also known as “decompression sickness”, which is when nitrogen starts to form bubbles in the diver’s body. This becomes an issue when the diver returns to the surface and normal air pressure and can lead to death. This is why one of the most important things to remember for divers is to never go too deep too quickly and never to go back to the surface too quickly.