Pressure In Water
Absolute Pressure
While diving, both the atmosphere and the water above you exert pressure. The combination of the atmospheric and water pressure is called absolute pressure. And since water is about 800 times denser than air, pressure changes at a faster rate than it does on land.
The rate of pressure increase depends on whether you're diving in salt water or fresh water. Because salt water has more density than fresh water, pressure increases faster as you descend in salt water.
Calculating changes in atmospheric pressure is challenging because air density decreases as altitude increases. Fortunately for us, water doesn't compress like air, so pressure increases at a constant rate with depth.
The rate of pressure increase depends on whether you're diving in salt water or fresh water. Because salt water has more density than fresh water, pressure increases faster as you descend in salt water.
Calculating changes in atmospheric pressure is challenging because air density decreases as altitude increases. Fortunately for us, water doesn't compress like air, so pressure increases at a constant rate with depth.
