Maya stands safely on the pool deck holding one full coral air pouch beside the ladder.

Why does deep water squish you?

Maya's sealed air pouch feels springy at the pool edge. What would the water do to that same trapped air farther down—and which part of the pool decides the squeeze?

Water has weight. Build one vertical stack: each identical packet adds more load to the same platform below.

Lower one sensor in one calm tank. Each mark down leaves a taller vertical water stack above that same spot.

Change outside pressure around one sealed air pocket. Compare it with the grey solid.

The same trapped air fills its starting space.

Fresh samples. Same water; starting balloons match. Read each raw tile tally and vertical target ruler before you guess.

A is left · B is right · pressure and final size stay covered

Same water · same starting balloons · both results covered

Which starting balloon will end smaller at its marked target?