Why is it crucial to keep track of time during cavern dives?

Keeping track of time during cavern dives is crucial for ensuring compliance with air supply limits. As divers descend into a cavern, the environment becomes more confined and potentially hazardous, making it essential to monitor how long they are underwater. By knowing how much time has passed, divers can manage their air consumption and avoid exceeding their limits. This awareness helps prevent running out of breathable gas before reaching a safe exit point.

In cavern diving, time management is fundamentally linked to safety. The length of the dive directly influences the amount of air consumed, the risk of decompression sickness, and the ability to respond to any emergencies that may arise. By adhering to planned timelines, divers can maintain a safe profile and make informed decisions, such as when to initiate their ascent or return to the surface.

Other options, while they touch on some aspects of diving, do not address the primary safety concern related to time management. For example, passing the time while diving or comparing times with other divers is not essential to the dive's safety or planning. Similarly, while avoiding rapid ascents is important for safety, it is not directly related to monitoring dive time in the context of air supply management. Thus, focusing on air supply limits is the most critical reason for keeping track of time in