Sailors would get this close to divers with the bends (6)
I believe the answer is:
scurvy
'sailors would get this' is the definition.
(disease once common among soldiers)
'close to divers with the bends' is the wordplay.
'close to' indicates one should take the final letters (the close of something is the end).
'with the bends' becomes 'curvy' (having curves or bends).
The final letter of 'divers' is 's'.
's'+'curvy'='SCURVY'
(Other definitions for scurvy that I've seen before include "an old naval problem" , "Condition caused by lack of vitamin C" , "problem for many a sailor?" , "Disease due to lack of vitamin C" , "Sailors' old disease" .)