Decompression sickness is also known as getting the bends- and it is something that any veteran diver will warn is not a pleasant condition and that you need to take all of the proper steps to ensure that it never happens to you. Many divers, when going back up to the surface take something called ‘decompression stops’ During a decompression stop, the diver allows the body to rid itself of any harmful gases such a nitrogen from the blood. If you don’t make these stops on your journey to the surface, these gases in your blood will expand and cause decompression sickness, which is something that is incredibly uncomfortable and a surefire way to ruin your vacation.