>I have a couple of questions.
>Would this not place the interior of you sub at the same
outside atmospheric pressure?
Yes. The idea behind an
ambient-pressure sub is that the inside-pressure is equal to the outside
pressure. This allows you the option of building your sub with materials that
won't have to take the stresses of keeping all that outside pressure
out.
>Will this also place the same pressure on the human body in the sub?
Yes. Diving in an
ambient-pressure sub places the same amout of pressure on the occupants as if
they were swimming outside the sub at that depth.
>If this is true, in the event if an emergency rise to the surface,
wouldn't this cause "the bends"?
Yes and No. You have to follow the
same decompression rules as any SCUBA diver would. If you were to dive
to 20 feet, then suddenly have to surface, your ears are going to hurt but you
won't get the bends. This is why the typical depth limit for ambient-pressure
subs is about 120 feet.
I believe that Bill Akins can give you a much more
detailed explanation if you so require.
NP