The interaction between an air bubble in water (d0 = 10–30 mm) and a shock wave generated by a small detonator (0.8 g) is studied. On the basis of direct pressure measurements inside pulsating bubbles and simultaneous photographic recording of the diameter variations, the overall thermal behavior of the gas in the bubbles is determined. It is found that the pulsation process is nearly adiabatic for the bubble sizes considered. The measured maximum pressures inside pulsating bubbles are given as a function of bubble size and distance from the explosion. From these results, the total energy absorbed by a bubble is calculated as a measure of the attenuation effect of a single bubble on a shock wave.