04/30/2026
Good reminder. Not considering and planning for narcosis can be fatal.
What is Narcosis? | IANTD
If you’ve ever heard that deep diving can feel like being “a little drunk”… that’s actually a real thing 👇
👉 Narcosis (or nitrogen narcosis)
🌊 What is it?
Narcosis is caused by nitrogen at depth.
As you descend:
• Pressure increases
• Nitrogen starts affecting your nervous system
Result: your brain doesn’t work at full capacity.
🧠 What does it feel like?
It can vary, but common effects include:
• Euphoria 😄
• Overconfidence 😎
• Slower thinking 🐢
• Poor decision-making
⚠️ What’s the risk?
The biggest danger isn’t the feeling…
it’s not realizing your judgment is impaired.
This can lead to:
• Ignoring depth limits
• Forgetting the dive plan
• Underestimating risks
🎯 Simple takeaway:
Narcosis = when nitrogen at depth messes with your thinking
That’s why divers are trained to recognize it and, if needed, ascend a few meters to reduce the effect.
Clear mind = safe dive.
IANTDDivers
