Accession Number:
ADA109474
Title:
Wet-Suited SCUBA Diver Performance in 5-25 C Water
Descriptive Note:
Final rept.
Corporate Author:
NAVAL MEDICAL RESEARCH INST BETHESDA MD
Personal Author(s):
Report Date:
1981-07-01
Pagination or Media Count:
20.0
Abstract:
As an assessment of adequacy of current Navy diving guidelines for thermal protection, the performance and physiology of three wet-suited SCUBA divers were measured over a series of 36 dives in water temperatures ranging from 5 C to 25 C. The divers performed cognitive and motor tasks during dives lasting up to 50 min at a depth of 3.35 m heart rate, respiration rate, and skin temperatures were recorded at 5-min intervals. Results indicated that despite substantial decreases in skin temperatures, diver performance on cognitive tasks was not significantly affected motor performance was impaired only when water temperature reached 5 C. These results indicate that the standard neoprene wet suit provides adequate protection during dives in shallow water at temperatures as low as 10 C and for exposure times as long as 50 min. Author
Descriptors:
Subject Categories:
- Stress Physiology