Which of the following describes the primary effect of bubbles in diving?

The primary effect of bubbles during diving is mechanical disruption. When a diver ascends too quickly, the rapid decrease in pressure can cause dissolved gases in the body, particularly nitrogen, to form bubbles. These bubbles can create physical disturbances in the body's tissues and blood vessels, leading to conditions such as decompression sickness, also known as "the bends." Mechanical disruption is significant because it accounts for the physical harm that bubbles can cause as they expand and move through the body’s vascular system, potentially leading to symptoms ranging from joint pain to severe neurological impairment.

Understanding this effect helps divers recognize the importance of adhering to safe ascent rates and the use of dive tables or computers to manage nitrogen absorption. Other factors listed, such as psychological stress, thermal damage, and increased buoyancy, are important in diving considerations but do not address the direct physical repercussions of bubble formation in the body.