Which technique is used for resurfacing a diver in distress?

The technique of controlled buoyancy ascent while monitoring the diver's condition is essential in scenarios involving a diver in distress. This approach ensures the diver’s safety by allowing for a gradual ascent, reducing the risk of decompression sickness and allowing for adequate monitoring of their vital signs and level of consciousness.

Monitoring is crucial during the ascent, as it helps assess how the diver is responding to the situation. If the diver exhibits signs of distress or decompression illness, immediate interventions can be implemented while still at depth. Controlled buoyancy allows for adjustments during the ascent, providing the opportunity to pause if necessary to allow for gas exchange in the body and to account for any symptoms that may arise.

The other techniques may pose significant safety risks. Rapid ascent may lead to decompression sickness or barotrauma, while immediate surface diving does not allow for monitoring or the implementation of safety protocols that are necessary in an emergency. Free ascent using a safety line, while better than a rapid ascent, does not provide the same level of control and monitoring that is critical for a diver in distress, potentially overlooking the diver's condition.