Eli5: If water can’t be compressed under normal conditions, then how does water pressure work?

Question

Eli5: If water can’t be compressed under normal conditions, then how does water pressure work?

In: 18

Answer 1

If water can’t BE compressed itself, then it would TRANSMIT that pressure forward. That takes into account what’s called “head pressure” where the water on top’s weight presses down (62 lbs per cubic foot) on the water below it. That can add up to a whole lot. It’s why your lungs feel emptier diving to the bottom of a 10ft pool than they do just under the surface.