What components can contribute to the formation of bubbles during ascent?

In the context of diving, bubbles during ascent are primarily related to the behavior of gases in solution as pressure decreases. The correct component that contributes to bubble formation during ascent is the inert gas, specifically nitrogen, coming out of solution.

As a diver ascends, the change in pressure causes nitrogen, which was dissolved in the body under higher pressure during the dive, to come out of solution and form bubbles. This is a crucial aspect of diving physiology and is the basis for understanding decompression sickness or "the bends." The risk of bubble formation increases if the ascent is too rapid, as it does not allow sufficient time for the body to safely off-gas the nitrogen.

While oxygen and carbon dioxide are important gases in the body, during ascent it is the inert gases that are more critical in terms of bubble formation. Helium can also play a role in deep dives, but it is primarily nitrogen that generates bubbles under typical recreational diving conditions due to its prevalence and the way it behaves during pressure changes.