What is saturation diving?

Saturation diving refers to a specialized diving technique where divers live in pressurized habitats for extended periods, allowing them to conduct deep dives without needing to repeatedly decompress or ascend to the surface after each dive. This technique is particularly valuable in underwater operations that require long durations at great depths, such as oil rig maintenance or underwater construction.

In saturation diving, the divers are usually accommodated in a pressurized chamber where they live and work, and they are transported to and from the dive site in a pressurized environment. This method minimizes the risks associated with decompression sickness by allowing the divers to remain at depth long enough that their bodies become saturated with the breathing gas at the pressure of the water surrounding them, making it safe to conduct dives without frequent surfacing.

The other choices do not accurately describe saturation diving. The first option suggests a method that involves constant surfacing, which contradicts the purpose of saturation diving. The third option discusses a diving style focused on shallow reefs, which does not relate to the deep-sea focus of saturation diving. Lastly, the fourth option indicates a type of diving that does not utilize scuba equipment, which is misleading as saturation divers typically use specialized gas mixtures and equipment suited for high-pressure environments.