What is the main risk associated with shallow water diving?

Barotrauma is a significant risk associated with shallow water diving primarily because of the harmful effects of pressure changes on the body. When divers are at shallow depths, they may experience rapid ascents or descents, leading to pressure differences that can cause injury to air-filled spaces within the body, such as the lungs and ears. As a diver ascends quickly, the air within these spaces expands, which can result in tissue damage, rupture, or other injuries — hence, the term "barotrauma."

The risk of barotrauma is particularly relevant in shallow water because divers may not always be as vigilant about equalizing pressure or may not anticipate the changes in pressure when they ascend quickly from a shallow depth. Such situations emphasize the importance of maintaining controlled ascents and being aware of one’s bodily responses to pressure variations, even in seemingly safer, shallower environments.