Why does diving 30 meters below sea level affect our bodies more than being in a building 30 meters above sea level?
Answer (2)
Imagine you are in a swimming pool 30m deep. Assuming you know that water is denser than air, you would know that the 30m of water above you will carry more weight, and press down on your body. Say you were in a swimming pool 60m deep, you would be sandwiched between 30m of water pressing down on you, and the upthrust created by the 30m of water below you.
In a building 30m up, the pressure will be regulated, as you are in a building. The floor will be strong enough to support the weight of the body, and the body will not recoil into itself.
Diving 30 meters below sea level subjects the body to significantly higher pressure than being in a building 30 meters above sea level, mainly due to the weight of the water above. At 30 meters deep, the pressure is about 4 atm, which can lead to conditions like decompression sickness if one ascends too quickly. In contrast, at a height of 30 meters, the pressure remains stable at about 1 atm, posing no significant impact on the body.
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