Diving Research Papers - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Since always and whatever the category, professional divers encountered a lot of accidents which are, due to the environment often lethal. As the causes of these accidents are often the same, the purpose of the present article is to... more

Since always and whatever the category, professional divers encountered a lot of accidents which are, due to the environment often lethal. As the causes of these accidents are often the same, the purpose of the present article is to highlight those most frequently encountered and therefore no less than 577 diving fatalities spread over the last forty years have been analyzed in this study. The results of the survey led to the conclusion that many of these accidents could have been avoided.

Competitive diving involves grace, power, balance, and flexibility, which all require satisfying daily energy and nutrient needs. Divers are short, well-muscled, and lean, giving them a distinct biomechanical advantage. Although little... more

Competitive diving involves grace, power, balance, and flexibility, which all require satisfying daily energy and nutrient needs. Divers are short, well-muscled, and lean, giving them a distinct biomechanical advantage. Although little diving-specific nutrition research on performance and health outcomes exists, there is concern that divers are excessively focused on body weight and composition, which may result in reduced dietary intake to achieve desired physique goals. This will result in low energy availability, which may have a negative impact on their power-to-weight ratio and health risks. Evidence is increasing that restrictive dietary practices leading to low energy availability also result in micronutrient deficiencies, premature fatigue, frequent injuries, and poor athletic performance. On the basis of daily training demands, estimated energy requirements for male and female divers are 3,500 kcal and 2,650 kcal, respectively. Divers should consume a diet that provides 3-8 g/kg/day of carbohydrate, with the higher values accommodating growth and development. Total daily protein intake (1.2-1.7 g/kg) should be spread evenly throughout the day in 20 to 30 g amounts and timed appropriately after training sessions. Divers should consume nutrient-dense foods and fluids and, with medical supervision, certain dietary supplements (i.e., calcium and iron) may be advisable. Although sweat loss during indoor training is relatively low, divers should follow appropriate fluid-intake strategies to accommodate anticipated sweat losses in hot and humid outdoor settings. A multidisciplinary sports medicine team should be integral to the daily training environment, and suitable foods and fluids should be made available during prolonged practices and competitions.

Electrocardiogram, cardiac output, and blood lactate accumulation were recorded in three elite breath-hold divers diving to 40-55 m in a pressure chamber in thermoneutral (35 degrees C) or cool (25 degrees C) water. In two of the divers,... more

Electrocardiogram, cardiac output, and blood lactate accumulation were recorded in three elite breath-hold divers diving to 40-55 m in a pressure chamber in thermoneutral (35 degrees C) or cool (25 degrees C) water. In two of the divers, invasive recordings of arterial blood pressure were also obtained during dives to 50 m in cool water. Bradycardia during the dives was more pronounced and developed more rapidly in the cool water, with heart rates dropping to 20-30 beats/min. Arrhythmias occurred, particularly during the dives in cool water, when they were often more frequent than sinus beats. Because of bradycardia, cardiac output decreased during the dives, especially in cool water (to <3 l/min in 2 of the divers). Arterial blood pressure increased dramatically, reaching values as high as 280/200 and 290/150 mmHg in the two divers, respectively. This hypertension was secondary to peripheral vasoconstriction, which also led to anaerobic metabolism, reflected in increased blood l...

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To demonstrate the utility of 12-lead Holter monitoring underwater. A Holter monitor, recording a 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) underwater, was applied to 16 pre-trained volunteer scuba divers (13 males and three females). Dive... more

To demonstrate the utility of 12-lead Holter monitoring underwater. A Holter monitor, recording a 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) underwater, was applied to 16 pre-trained volunteer scuba divers (13 males and three females). Dive computers were synchronized with the Holter recorder to correlate the ECG tracings with diving events. Our main objective was to demonstrate the utility of recording over a period of time a good quality 12-lead ECG underwater. The ECGs were analyzed for heart rate (HR), arrhythmias, conduction abnormalities and ischaemic events in relation to various stages of diving as follows: baseline, pre diving, diving, and post diving. The ECG tracings were of good quality with minimal artefacts. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) demonstrated a significant difference in HR during the various diving stages (P < 0.0001). Other recorded ECG abnormalities included supraventricular ectopic beats (four cases), ventricular ectopic beats (eight cases) and ventricular couplets (...

The incidence and nature of cardiac arrhythmias during static apnea were studied by monitoring the electrocardiogram (ECG) and oxygen saturation (SaO 2 ) of 16 recreational breath-hold divers. All subjects completed a maximal apnea with a... more

The incidence and nature of cardiac arrhythmias during static apnea were studied by monitoring the electrocardiogram (ECG) and oxygen saturation (SaO 2 ) of 16 recreational breath-hold divers. All subjects completed a maximal apnea with a mean ( §SD) breath-hold duration of 281 ( §73) s without clinical complications. Both heart rate (HR) and SaO 2 decreased signiWcantly with breath-hold duration. The decline in SaO 2 was inversely related to the decline in HR (r = ¡0.55, P < 0.05). Cardiac arrhythmias (supraventricular and ventricular premature complexes, right bundle branch block) occurred in 12/16 (77%) subjects and were related to breath-hold duration. Subjects with atrial premature complexes (n = 9) had a reduced BMI (P = 0.016) and a higher decline of the terminal SaO 2 (P = 0.01). In conclusion, ectopic arrhythmias were common during maximal static apneas for training purposes.

During diving, marine mammals must rely on the efficient utilization of a limited oxygen reserve sequestered in the lungs, blood and muscles. To determine the effects of exercise and apnea on the use of these reserves, we examined the... more

During diving, marine mammals must rely on the efficient utilization of a limited oxygen reserve sequestered in the lungs, blood and muscles. To determine the effects of exercise and apnea on the use of these reserves, we examined the physiological responses of adult bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) trained to breath-hold on the water surface or to dive to submerged targets at depths between 60 and 210 m. Changes in blood lactate levels, in partial pressures of oxygen and carbon dioxide and in heart rate were assessed while the dolphins performed sedentary breath-holds. The effects of exercise on breath-hold capacity were examined by measuring heart rate and post-dive respiration rate and blood lactate concentration for dolphins diving in Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, Hawaii. Ascent and descent rates, stroke frequency and swimming patterns were monitored during the dives. The results showed that lactate concentration was 1.1+/-0.1 mmol l(-1) at rest and increased non-linearly with the ...

This survey addresses the immediate physiological reactions to immersion in cold water: cold shock response, diving reflex, cardiac arrhythmias and hypothermia. Cold shock response is the initial sympathetic reaction to immersion in cold... more

This survey addresses the immediate physiological reactions to immersion in cold water: cold shock response, diving reflex, cardiac arrhythmias and hypothermia. Cold shock response is the initial sympathetic reaction to immersion in cold water. The diving reflex is elicited by submersion of the face. Afferent and efferent nerves are the trigeminal and vagal nerves. Cardiac arrhythmias occur immediately after immersion. If the immersion persists, hypothermia becomes an issue. Hypothermia is delayed by habituation to immersion in cold water as well as insulating garments, subcutaneous fat and a large lean body mass.

Marine turtles spend more than 90% of their life underwater and have been termed surfacers as opposed to divers. Nonetheless turtles have been reported occasionally to float motionless at the surface but the reasons for this behaviour are... more

Marine turtles spend more than 90% of their life underwater and have been termed surfacers as opposed to divers. Nonetheless turtles have been reported occasionally to float motionless at the surface but the reasons for this behaviour are not clear. We investigated the location, timing and duration of extended surface times (ESTs) in 10 free-ranging loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) and the possible relationship to water temperature and diving activity recorded via satellite relay data loggers for 101-450 days. For one turtle that dived only in offshore areas, ESTs contributed 12% of the time whereas for the other turtles ESTs contributed 0.4-1.8% of the time. ESTs lasted on average 90 min but were mostly infrequent and irregular, excluding the involvement of a fundamental regulatory function. However, 82% of the ESTs occurred during daylight, mostly around noon, suggesting a dependence on solar radiation. For three turtles, there was an appreciable (7°C to 10.5°C) temperature decrease with depth for dives during periods when ESTs occurred frequently, suggesting a re-warming function of EST to compensate for decreased body temperatures, possibly to enhance digestive efficiency. A positive correlation between body mass and EST duration supported this explanation. By contrast, night-active turtles that exceeded their calculated aerobic dive limits in 7.6-16% of the dives engaged in nocturnal ESTs, probably for lactate clearance. This is the first evidence that loggerhead turtles may refrain from diving for at least two reasons, either to absorb solar radiation or to recover from anaerobic activity.

Permanent neuropsychological changes such as memory disturbances and depression have been found in professional divers, even in those who have never had decompression sickness. The changes are probably the result of intravascular gas... more

Permanent neuropsychological changes such as memory disturbances and depression have been found in professional divers, even in those who have never had decompression sickness. The changes are probably the result of intravascular gas bubbles insufficient to cause acute symptoms. We examined amateur divers with long histories of self-contained underwater breathing apparatus diving by magnetic resonance imaging and compared them with normal controls. Hyperintense lesions of the subcortical cerebral white matter and degenerative changes of the cervical disks were significantly more common in the divers. 27 of 52 divers had a total of 86 focal hyperintensities versus 10 of 50 controls with 14 focal hyperintensities (p < 0.01). 32 divers had at least one degenerated intravertebral disc versus 9 controls (p < 0.0001). These results suggest that amateur divers are at risk of accumulating lesions in the central nervous system and in cartilage.

Questo manuale è il frutto di grande conoscenza ed esperienza ed è stato progettato per addestrare all'immersione tecnica i subacquei sportivi che siano già esperti ed abili e che posseggono come prerequisito minimo di addestramento il... more

Questo manuale è il frutto di grande conoscenza ed esperienza ed è stato progettato per addestrare all'immersione tecnica i subacquei sportivi che siano già esperti ed abili e che posseggono come prerequisito minimo di addestramento il brevetto IANTD Advanced EANx Diver o un livello equivalente. Il suo scopo è quello di fornire le migliori informazioni e addestramento a coloro che desiderano diventare IANTD Technical Diver pienamente certificati o a coloro che desiderano avere informazioni limitate relative al conseguimento dei brevetti di IANTD Advanced Deep Air Diver o Normoxic Trimix Diver. Questo manuale svilupperà all'allievo le tre categorie didattiche necessarie del percorso evolutivo per diventare un IANTD Technical Diver:
 conoscenze teoriche
 addestramento psico-fisico
 corretto utilizzo dell’equipaggiamento
Attraverso lo sviluppo equilibrato di queste categorie il subacqueo potrà acquisire il brevetto di IANTD Advanced Deep Air Diver ed una volta stabilito questo prerequisito procedere verso la piena qualifica di IANTD Technical Diver. Inoltre le informazioni contenute nel manuale per accedere alla qualifica di IANTD Normoxic Trimix Diver rappresentano principalmente l’acquisizione del subacqueo della padronanza nell'utilizzo delle miscele trimix normossiche (max 20% O2 e 30% He). La configurazione adottata e le miscele decompressive saranno in funzione del brevetto già posseduto dal subacqueo per accedere al corso, cioè Advanced EANx Diver o Technical Diver.
ISBN 978-88-8250-223-2

Acute pulmonary edema may be induced by diving and strenuous swimming. We report the case of a diver using closed-circuit, scuba equipment who developed acute dyspnea, hemoptysis, and hypoxemia following a dive in 18 degreesC (64.4... more

Acute pulmonary edema may be induced by diving and strenuous swimming. We report the case of a diver using closed-circuit, scuba equipment who developed acute dyspnea, hemoptysis, and hypoxemia following a dive in 18 degreesC (64.4 degrees F) water and physical exertion during the swim back to shore. With the growing popularity of recreational scuba diving, emergency physicians are liable to be faced with increasing numbers of diving-related medical problems. Diving-induced pulmonary edema should be included in the differential diagnosis of acute hypoxemia, sometimes accompanied by acid-base abnormalities, when this is seen in a diver.

The snorkel, which allows swimmers to keep their face down in the water while breathing, is widely used by divers, spear fishermen and monofin swimmers. A snorkel consists of a mouthpiece and a tube that has an air space usually with a... more

The snorkel, which allows swimmers to keep their face down in the water while breathing, is widely used by divers, spear fishermen and monofin swimmers. A snorkel consists of a mouthpiece and a tube that has an air space usually with a volume of 160 ± 170 ml. This volume functions as an additional dead space in addition to the anatomical dead space, because the air in the snorkel is re-inspired. The concentration of CO 2 in the gas in the snorkel will be equal to expired air, since expired air is trapped in the snorkel tube. Some monofin swimmers reported that they felt their performance was better when they expired into the water instead of expiring into the snorkel, thus ensuring that the inspired air in the snorkel has no expired CO 2 in it. An increase in ventilation is expected when the concentration of CO 2 is higher in the inspired gas and this has been shown in several studies . In this paper we investigated ventilatory response and metabolic changes when rebreathing the gas in the snorkel.

The number of recreational scuba divers is steadily increasing. In its latest recommendations, the French Federation of Undersea Studies and Sports listed congenital heart disease as a formal and final contraindication to scuba diving. On... more

The number of recreational scuba divers is steadily increasing. In its latest recommendations, the French Federation of Undersea Studies and Sports listed congenital heart disease as a formal and final contraindication to scuba diving. On the other hand, with the progress made in their management, the prognosis and quality of life of patients with congenital heart diseases have improved considerably, enabling them to engage in physical and sports endeavours, which are known to confer general health and psychological benefits. As a consequence, the ability of these patients to dive has become a regular and recurrent issue. We review the various types of scuba diving, the physical performance required for its practice, its effects on cardiovascular function and the elements that need to be considered before recommending whether it can be practiced safely at various levels of difficulty. Because of the diversity and broad heterogeneity of congenital heart diseases, a detailed evaluatio...

The popularity of ecotourism in the marine protected areas of Mexico has increased over the last 10 years; in particular there is a large development of a SCUBA diving industry in the Mexican Pacific including Isabel Island. Given the... more

The popularity of ecotourism in the marine protected areas of Mexico has increased over the last 10 years; in particular there is a large development of a SCUBA diving industry in the Mexican Pacific including Isabel Island. Given the risks associated with human activity in the marine environments around this island, we propose two ecotourism management strategies: (1) the creation and use of underwater trails, and (2) the estimation of the specific tourism carrying capacity (TCC) for each trail. Six underwater trails were selected in sites that presented elements of biological, geological, and scenic interest, using information obtained during field observations. The methodology used to estimate the TCC was based upon the physical and biological conditions of each site, the infrastructure and equipment available, and the characteristics of the service providers and the administrators of the park. Correction factors of the TCC included elements of the quality of the visit and the threat and vulnerability of the marine environment of each trail (e.g., divers' expertise, size and distance between groups of divers, accessibility, wind, coral coverage). The TCC values ranged between 1,252 and 1,642 dives/year/trail, with a total of 8,597 dives/year for all six trails. Although these numbers are higher than the actual number of recreational visitors to the island (*1,000 dives per year), there is a need for adequate preventive management if the diving sites are to maintain their esthetic appeal and biological characteristics. Such management might be initially directed toward using only the sites and the TCC proposed here.

One of the reasons for the emergency use of a hyperbaric chamber concerns a diving-related accident. Decompression sickness is potentially serious; it requires urgent treatment and hyperbaric recompression. It is caused by the formation... more

One of the reasons for the emergency use of a hyperbaric chamber concerns a diving-related accident. Decompression sickness is potentially serious; it requires urgent treatment and hyperbaric recompression. It is caused by the formation of nitrogen bubbles in the organism which appear during the diver's ascent and throughout his or her decompression.

This article examines the neurocognitive sequelae of repeated exposure to hypoxemia in apnea (breath-hold) divers. A brief review of the literature on the physiological and neurological adaptations involved in the ''human diving reflex''... more

This article examines the neurocognitive sequelae of repeated exposure to hypoxemia in apnea (breath-hold) divers. A brief review of the literature on the physiological and neurological adaptations involved in the ''human diving reflex'' is presented. The results from a neuropsychological investigation of N ¼ 21 elite apnea divers are evaluated. Standard neuropsychological tests, with known sensitivity to mild brain insults, included speed of visuo-motor responding, speed of language comprehension, response inhibition, and visual and verbal attention and recall tasks. Results indicated that the breath-hold divers performed tasks within the average range compared to norms on all tests, suggesting that 1-20 years of repeated exposure to hypoxemia including multiple adverse neurological events did not impact on performance on standard neuropsychological tasks. The results are discussed in relation to implications for clinical conditions such as sleep apnea, respiratory disorders, altitude sickness, and recreational apnea activities.

Geoposizionamento, rilievo, campionatura e analisi dendrocronologica delle specie arboree della foresta sommersa del lago di Tovel (TN). Con il patrocinio del Parco Naturale Adamello Brenta e del Comune di Ville d'Anaunia (TN) e la... more

Geoposizionamento, rilievo, campionatura e analisi dendrocronologica delle specie arboree della foresta sommersa del lago di Tovel (TN). Con il patrocinio del Parco Naturale Adamello Brenta e del Comune di Ville d'Anaunia (TN) e la collaborazione di: CNR-IBE di S. Michele all'Adige (TN)

fortbildungschwerpunkt fortbildungschwerpunkt Unter welchen Bedingungen darf ein Asthmatiker tauchen? Wie lange muss die Bypass-OP her sein, um wieder mit den Fischen schwimmen zu können? Nur umfangreiche Untersuchungen erlauben hier ein... more

fortbildungschwerpunkt fortbildungschwerpunkt Unter welchen Bedingungen darf ein Asthmatiker tauchen? Wie lange muss die Bypass-OP her sein, um wieder mit den Fischen schwimmen zu können? Nur umfangreiche Untersuchungen erlauben hier ein individuelles Urteil. Doch auch dem vermeintlich Gesunden sollten Sie kein Gefälligkeitsattest ausstellen. Denn im Unglücksfall hat nicht nur der Patient das Nachsehen, auch Sie können zur Verantwortung gezogen werden.

Pneumocephalus is a recognized complication from head and facial traumas, sinus surgery and as a complication from otitis media acuta. Only a few cases of pneumocephalus related to diving have been reported. We report an occupational... more

Pneumocephalus is a recognized complication from head and facial traumas, sinus surgery and as a complication from otitis media acuta. Only a few cases of pneumocephalus related to diving have been reported. We report an occupational diver who suffered spontaneous subarachnoidal pneumocephalus related to a dive to 20 meters. At a depth of 17 msw he suffered from sudden onset of headache, dizziness, nausea and feeling of disorientation. He had no recognized risk factors such as documented facial fractures, rapid ascent or blocked sinuses. CT showed air in the subarachnoidal space. Otoneurological tests revealed pathological smooth pursuit tracking eye movements and substantial imbalance indicating a central neurological injury. CT and MRI showed a bony defect in the sphenoid sinus covered only by arachnoidea. This was probably the communicative fistula for the entrance of air. On follow-up examination one year later he still had central nervous symptoms and signs, as well as symptoms...

The human dive reflex (DR) essentially consists of HR deceleration (HRD) and peripheral vasoconstriction. The dominant view of the DR's mechanism is (adaptive) oxygen conservation such that the DR is often referred to as the... more

The human dive reflex (DR) essentially consists of HR deceleration (HRD) and peripheral vasoconstriction. The dominant view of the DR's mechanism is (adaptive) oxygen conservation such that the DR is often referred to as the oxygen-conserving reflex. However, this and other issues have not been resolved hecause the literature has lacked precise measurement quantification and experimental control. The present study was designed to test the oxygen conservation hypothesis in a controlled lahoratory setting and varied temperature between three groups of 16 subjects (10°, 20°a nd 40° C). The range was chosen to produce maximal variation in the rate of trigeminal cold-fibre activity, and minimal pain-fihre activity. The response-topography results were consistent with an earlier study, and also yielded evidence that the DR varied inversely with temperature. This seems contrary to the oxygen-conservation view, and indirectly implicates the role ofthe trigeminal nerves in the afl'erent mechanisms ofthe human DR. A physiological analysis ofthese results is offered.

To ascertain whether mammary implants are prone to changes in conformation or structure if they are submitted to recreational dives, eight mammary implants were submitted to 40 simulated dives to imitate an average recreational diving... more

To ascertain whether mammary implants are prone to changes in conformation or structure if they are submitted to recreational dives, eight mammary implants were submitted to 40 simulated dives to imitate an average recreational diving schedule. Matching implants were used as a control group. Photographs were taken before and after completion of the protocol. All implants were observed for changes in volume and checked for integrity. Variations in density were evaluated using a Tc scan. No changes in volume occurred after each dive. None of the implants showed ruptures, and Tc scanning failed to reveal any differences in density between tested and control implants. Cohesive-gel implants submitted to the simulated dives showed some morphological alterations. This study indicates that the mammary implants tested could be implanted in a sports diver, but raises concern about whether the increased exposure to stress could negatively affect their durability. 9 2002 The British Association of Plastic Surgeons

Scuba diving injuries vary greatly in severity and prognosis. While decompression sickness (DCS) and arterial gas embolism can be tracked easily, other forms of diving injury remain unaccounted for. The purpose of this paper is to assess... more

Scuba diving injuries vary greatly in severity and prognosis. While decompression sickness (DCS) and arterial gas embolism can be tracked easily, other forms of diving injury remain unaccounted for. The purpose of this paper is to assess rates of overall self-reported scuba-diving-related injuries, self-reported DCS-like symptoms, and treated DCS and their association with diver certification level, diving experience and demographic factors. We analyzed self-reported data from a Divers Alert Network membership health survey conducted during the summer of 2011. Poisson regression models with scaled deviance were used to model the relative rates of reported injuries. Models were adjusted for sex, age, body mass index (BMI) and average annual dives, based on the bias-variance tradeoff. The overall rate of diving-related injury was 3.02 per 100 dives, self-reported DCS symptoms was 1.55 per 1,000 dives and treated DCS was 5.72 per 100,000 dives. Diving-related injury and self-reported D...

A passive sonar array designed for tracking diving sperm whales in three dimensions from a single small vessel is presented, and the advantages and limitations of operating this array from a 6 m boat are described. The system consists of... more

A passive sonar array designed for tracking diving sperm whales in three dimensions from a single small vessel is presented, and the advantages and limitations of operating this array from a 6 m boat are described. The system consists of four free floating buoys, each with a hydrophone, built-in recorder, and global positioning system receiver ͑GPS͒, and one vertical stereo hydrophone array deployed from the boat. Array recordings are post-processed onshore to obtain diving profiles of vocalizing sperm whales. Recordings are synchronized using a GPS timing pulse recorded onto each track. Sensitivity analysis based on hyperbolic localization methods is used to obtain probability distributions for the whale's three-dimensional location for vocalizations received by at least four hydrophones. These localizations are compared to those obtained via isodiachronic sequential bound estimation. Results from deployment of the system around a sperm whale in the Kaikoura Canyon in New Zealand are shown.

Nella formazione di un subacqueo questo corso è il più importante dopo quello iniziale e determina il definitivo passaggio da una attività ricreativa e non impegnativa ad una piùcosciente e ragionata. Per questo bisogna essere consapevoli... more

Nella formazione di un subacqueo questo corso è il più importante dopo quello iniziale e determina il definitivo passaggio da una attività ricreativa e non impegnativa ad una piùcosciente e ragionata. Per questo bisogna essere consapevoli che l’attività che sta per essere intrapresa è entusiasmante, ma comporta dei rischi e che, per essere goduta appieno, deve essere svolta con disciplina e pieno senso di responsabilità. Ignoranza, leggerezza, scarso addestramento e presunzione possono determinare incidenti a se stessi o ad altri, talvolta anche mortali. La consapevolezza, la determinazione e il senso di responsabilità invece permetteranno di affrontare con successo il corso e quelli successivi che miglioreranno le vostre capacità d’immersione mettendovi in grado di esplorare in sicurezza profondità maggiori e per
tempi di permanenza più lunghi, oppure esplorare relitti, grotte ed altri ambienti fino ad ora preclusi. La padronanza di queste tecniche e conoscenze inoltre potranno aprire la porta, a coloro di voi che lo desidereranno, della vera e propria subacquea tecnica e delle
immersioni con trimix. Probabilmente l’aria è il gas che la maggioranza dei subacquei ancora utilizza, ma chi affronta questo corso deve avere come prerequisito il brevetto IANTD EANx Diver od uno equivalente che gli dia le basi sicure per uno sviluppo ulteriore delle conoscenze dell’immersione con gas respiratori diversi dall'aria. Gli obbiettivi d’addestramento saranno soddisfatti quando sarete in grado di padroneggiare completamente la conoscenza e l’utilizzo di miscele nitrox idonee per ottimizzare il tempo di fondo dell’immersione e la
decompressione, anche per periodi prolungati ed oltre i limiti della curva di non decompressione. Il primo passo verso queste capacità future ed entusiasmanti è lo studio di questo manuale che è il più completo e migliore testo sulla materia. Esso è la sorgente originale e basilare che deve essere padroneggiata da chi vuole intraprende questo tipo di attività d’immersione. E’ stato sviluppato specificatamente per formare le conoscenze, l’addestramento e la maturità dello studente. Esse comprendono la conoscenza teorica dei principi fisici e fisiologici, gli esercizi psicomotori, il giusto allenamento, la forma fisica, l’esperienza, la maturità caratteriale e la conoscenza dell’attrezzatura. Tutti argomenti
indispensabili, la cui padronanza è fondamentale per affrontare nel modo giusto le immersioni profonde ad aria e/o miscele di nitrox (EANx) fino al limite dei 42 m con decompressione.
Questo manuale tratta ed insegna tutti questi argomenti ed è il frutto di grandi conoscenze che solo venti anni fa, agli inizi degli anni ’90, non erano a disposizione di una utenza generalizzata, ciò che vi è scritto è frutto di grande studio, esperienza e sacrifici, è la base di conoscenza futura e un rifermento sempre affidabile.

Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a risk factor for decompression sickness (DCS) in divers due to paradoxical embolization of nitrogen bubbles formed in peripheral blood during decrease of ambient pressure . In our previous study we have... more

Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a risk factor for decompression sickness (DCS) in divers due to paradoxical embolization of nitrogen bubbles formed in peripheral blood during decrease of ambient pressure . In our previous study we have demonstrated that catheter-based PFO closure prevented right-to-left shunting of bubbles and might prevent DCS recurrence . However, the question of PFO closure is still debatable . Also, randomized clinical data are lacking in this field. Therefore, the majority of divers are currently not referred for PFO closure, and various conservative dive profiles (CDP) are recommended to prevent unprovoked DCS (i.e., without violation of decompression regimen) . Unfortunately, to date, the safety of these CDP has not been tested in divers with PFO. The aim of this study was to test the effect of dive time and ascent rate restrictions on the occurrence of venous and arterial bubbles in divers with PFO after simulated dives. We compared a standardly recommended no-decompression dive [5] and a stricter regimen with slower ascent to the same control dive, which was previously used to test the efficacy of catheter-based PFO closure [2].

The body of a 44-year-old scuba diver was examined using postmortem multislice computed tomography (MSCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and findings were verified by subsequent autopsy. The goal was to find out whether the... more

The body of a 44-year-old scuba diver was examined using postmortem multislice computed tomography (MSCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and findings were verified by subsequent autopsy. The goal was to find out whether the important pathomorphological findings for the reconstruction of events and the identification of cause and manner of death could be identified using modem digital cross-sectioning techniques. The findings of a massive vital decompression with pulmonary barotrauma and lethal gas embolism were identified in the radiological images. MSCT and MRI were superior to autopsy in the demonstration of the extent and distribution of gas accumulation in intraparenchymal blood vessels of internal organs as well as in areas of the body inaccessible by standard autopsy.

Decompression Sickness (DCS) may occur when divers decompress from a hyperbaric environment. To prevent this, decompression procedures are used to get safely back to the surface. The models whose procedures are calculated from, are... more

Decompression Sickness (DCS) may occur when divers decompress from a hyperbaric environment. To prevent this, decompression procedures are used to get safely back to the surface. The models whose procedures are calculated from, are traditionally validated using clinical symptoms as an endpoint. However, DCS is an uncommon phenomenon and the wide variation in individual response to decompression stress is poorly understood. And generally, using clinical examination alone for validation is disadvantageous from a modeling perspective. Currently, the only objective and quantitative measure of decompression stress is Venous Gas Emboli (VGE), measured by either ultrasonic imaging or Doppler. VGE has been shown to be statistically correlated with DCS, and is now widely used in science to evaluate decompression stress from a dive. Until recently no mathematical model has existed to predict VGE from a dive, which motivated the development of the Copernicus model. The present article compiles a selection experimental dives and field data containing computer recorded depth profiles associated with ultrasound measurements of VGE. It describes a parameter estimation problem to fit the model with these data. A total of 185 square bounce dives from DCIEM, Canada, 188 recreational dives with a mix of single, repetitive and multi-day exposures from DAN USA and 84 experimentally designed decompression dives from Split Croatia were used, giving a total of 457 dives. Five selected parameters in the Copernicus bubble model were assigned for estimation and a non-linear optimization problem was formalized with a weighted least square cost function. A bias factor to the DCIEM chamber dives was also included. A Quasi-Newton algorithm (BFGS) from the TOMLAB numerical package solved the problem which was proved to be convex. With the parameter set presented in this article, Copernicus can be implemented in any programming language to estimate VGE from an air dive.

Le découpage thermique sous eau est une technique de travail couramment utilisée par les plongeurs-scaphandriers depuis plus d'un siècle, mais elle est malheureusement aussi responsable de nombreux accidents graves et mortels dont la... more

Le découpage thermique sous eau est une technique de travail couramment utilisée par les plongeurs-scaphandriers depuis plus d'un siècle, mais elle est malheureusement aussi responsable de nombreux accidents graves et mortels dont la principale cause est liée aux explosions.
Pourtant, et aussi étonnant que cela puisse paraitre, aucune étude n'a semble-t-il été réalisée sur ce sujet.
Le but de ce petit document, qui na aucune vocation scientifique, est dès lors principalement destiné aux scaphandriers afin de leur expliquer d'une manière simple, quelles sont les causes, les effets ainsi que les conséquences de ces explosions liées au découpage sous eau, de manière à ce qu'ils puissent s'en protéger au maximum.

Türkiye dalış camiasının tarihi anlattığım seri röportajlarımdan Sayın Zareh Magar'ın Hikayesi

Since the introduction of recreational closed-circuit rebreathers (CCRs) in 1998, there have been many recorded deaths. Rebreather deaths have been quoted to be as high as 1 in 100 users. Rebreather fatalities between 1998 and 2010 were... more

Since the introduction of recreational closed-circuit rebreathers (CCRs) in 1998, there have been many recorded deaths. Rebreather deaths have been quoted to be as high as 1 in 100 users. Rebreather fatalities between 1998 and 2010 were extracted from the Deeplife rebreather mortality database, and inaccuracies were corrected where known. Rebreather absolute numbers were derived from industry discussions and training agency statistics. Relative numbers and brands were extracted from the Rebreather World website database and a Dutch rebreather survey. Mortality was compared with data from other databases. A fault-tree analysis of rebreathers was compared to that of open-circuit scuba of various configurations. Finally, a risk analysis was applied to the mortality database. The 181 recorded recreational rebreather deaths occurred at about 10 times the rate of deaths amongst open-circuit recreational scuba divers. No particular brand or type of rebreather was over-represented. Closed-c...

Ecolodge is a type of hotel that focuses on saving and protecting the environment, either it was natural, biological, or even cultural. Ecolodges promotes ecotourism and it can be “cultural, recreational” tourism by understanding the... more

Ecolodge is a type of hotel that focuses on saving and protecting the environment, either it was natural, biological, or even cultural. Ecolodges promotes ecotourism and it can be “cultural, recreational” tourism by understanding the importance of the location. And working on keeping it safe from the full scale harm use of the environment; e.g. “restoration of reserves”, as well as encouraging local and their right to prosper lives, for example “knowing new language, helping them prosper”. Our collective study will give us the guide to operate and design an Ecolodge, in order to support Sustainable Development. Sustainable development is where it meets the needs of the present time without depletion of the resources and forget the right of future generations to meet its need from these resources. Efficiency Program is vital part of operating the Ecolodge, where renewable and non-renewable resources are efficiently utilized. Hiring professional locals and empowering their skills is a successful vital too, and all of that is considered to achieve balance of nature.

In this paper a complete energy balance for water locomotion is attempted with the aim of comparing different modes of transport in the aquatic environment (swimming underwater with SCUBA diving equipment, swimming at the surface: leg... more

In this paper a complete energy balance for water locomotion is attempted with the aim of comparing different modes of transport in the aquatic environment (swimming underwater with SCUBA diving equipment, swimming at the surface: leg kicking and front crawl, kayaking and rowing). On the basis of the values of metabolic power (E _), of the power needed to overcome water resistance (W _ d ) and of propelling efficiency (g P =W _ d /W _ tot , where W _ tot is the total mechanical power) as reported in the literature for each of these forms of locomotion, the energy cost per unit distance (C=E_/v, where v is the velocity), the drag (performance) efficiency (g d =W _ d /E _) and the overall efficiency (g o =W _ tot /E _=g d /g P ) were calculated. As previously found for human locomotion on land, for a given metabolic power (e.g. 0.5 kW=1.43 lAEmin )1 V_O 2 ) the decrease in C (from 0.88 kJAEm )1 in SCUBA diving to 0.22 kJAEm )1 in rowing) is associated with an increase in the speed of locomotion (from 0.6 mAEs )1 in SCUBA diving to 2.4 mAEs )1 in rowing). At variance with locomotion on land, however, the decrease in C is associated with an increase, rather than a decrease, of the total mechanical work per unit distance (W tot , kJAEm )1 ). This is made possible by the increase of the overall efficiency of locomotion (g o =W_ tot /E _=W tot /C) from the slow speeds (and loads) of swimming to the high speeds (and loads) attainable with hulls and boats (from 0.10 in SCUBA diving to 0.29 in rowing).

Manuale per l'addestramento di subacquei per l'immersione in caverna. Viene descritta la geologia dell'ambiente, l'equipaggiamento e la configurazione necessaria, l'attitudine e la psicologia per questo tipo di attività, le tecniche e la... more

Manuale per l'addestramento di subacquei per l'immersione in caverna. Viene descritta la geologia dell'ambiente, l'equipaggiamento e la configurazione necessaria, l'attitudine e la psicologia per questo tipo di attività, le tecniche e la programmazione, la gestione dei gas e il dettagliato addestramento. Un manuale indispensabile per chi si voglia impegnare in questa impegnativa attività.
ISBN 978-88-8250-230-0
€ 35

When mammals strand, they present a unique opportunity to obtain insights into their ecology. In May 2013, three True's beaked whales (two adult females and a female calf) stranded on the north and west coasts of Ireland and the contents... more

When mammals strand, they present a unique opportunity to obtain insights into their ecology. In May 2013, three True's beaked whales (two adult females and a female calf) stranded on the north and west coasts of Ireland and the contents of their stomachs and intestines were analysed for anthropogenic debris. A method for identifying microplastics ingested by larger marine organisms was developed. Microplastics were identified throughout the digestive tract of the single whale that was examined for the presence of microplastics. The two adult females had macroplastic items in their stomachs. Food remains recovered from the adult whales consisted of mesopelagic fish (Benthosema glaciale, Nansenia spp., Chauliodius sloani) and cephalopods, although trophic transfer has been discussed, it was not possible to ascertain whether prey were the source of microplastics. This is the first study to directly identify microplastics <5 mm in a cetacean species.

Данный сборник материалов разработан для водолазов, специалистов обеспечивающих водолазные спуски, слушателей водолазных школ и всех заинтересованных лиц в учебных и ознакомительных целях. В издании собрана информация по организации... more

Данный сборник материалов разработан для водолазов, специалистов обеспечивающих водолазные спуски, слушателей водолазных школ и всех заинтересованных лиц в учебных и ознакомительных целях.
В издании собрана информация по организации водолазных
спусков в соответствии с приказом Министерства здравоохранения и социального развития РФ от 13 апреля 2007 г. № 269 «Об утверждении Межотраслевых правил по охране труда при проведении водолазных работ», сформированная в простом и удобном формате для изучения и дальнейшего использования.
При подготовке были использованы только действующие в Российской Федерации нормативно-правовые акты в области организации водолазных спусков. Издание может использоваться при подготовке к экзаменам в водолазных школах, сдаче ежегодного техминимуму на водолазной квалификационной комиссии, сдаче зачётов специалистами в организации, а также стать незаменимым помощником в повседневной рабочей деятельности.

This is the second report based on a survey of Divers Alert Network Asia-Pacific (DAN AP) members who dive with cardiovascular and respiratory conditions and diabetes. It examines the medical management of the divers' conditions, any... more

This is the second report based on a survey of Divers Alert Network Asia-Pacific (DAN AP) members who dive with cardiovascular and respiratory conditions and diabetes. It examines the medical management of the divers' conditions, any diving modifications used to mitigate the risk and outcomes. An online cross-sectional survey was sent to 833 divers who had declared a targeted medical condition when applying for DAN AP membership between July 2009 and August 2013. Two-hundred-and-sixty-eight respondents (32%) provided sufficient information on their conditions to be included in the analyses. These included ischaemic heart disease (31), arrhythmias (20), cardiac septal defects (31), other cardiac conditions (10), hypertension (127), diabetes (25), asthma (40) and pneumothorax (5). Forty-nine per cent had sought specialist diving medical advice about their condition and 23% reported modifying their diving practices to mitigate their risk. The cohort had completed 183,069 career div...

Purpose: This study was designed to determine the recompression strategy and the potential risk factors associated with the development of severe diving-related spinal cord decompression sickness (DCS). Material and methods: Sixty-three... more

Purpose: This study was designed to determine the recompression strategy and the potential risk factors associated with the development of severe diving-related spinal cord decompression sickness (DCS). Material and methods: Sixty-three injured recreational divers (52 men and 11 women; 46 ± 12 years) presenting with symptoms of spinal involvement were retrospectively included. Diving information, symptom latency after dive completion, and time interval between symptom onset and hyperbaric treatment were studied. The severity of spinal cord DCS was rated numerically for both the acute event and 1-month later. Initial recompression treatment at 2.8 atmosphere absolute (ATA) with 100% oxygen breathing or deeper recompression at 4 atmosphere absolute with nitrogen-oxygen or helium-oxygen breathing mixture was also noted. Results: Twenty-one divers (33%) had incomplete resolution after 1 month. The clinical severity at presentation was the only independent predictor of poor outcome (odd ratio, 2.68; P b .033). Time to treatment did not influence the recovery with a similar median delay (3 hours) between the divers with or without long-term sequelae. Choice of recompression procedure was not also a determinant factor for treatment outcome. Conclusion: The initial clinical course before treatment is a major prognostic factor of spinal cord DCS. Delay to recompression less than 3 hours and use of deep treatment tables did not improve outcome in DCS divers.

Petit manuel de formation destiné aux plongeurs scaphandriers.

The body of a 44-year-old scuba diver was examined using postmortem multislice computed tomography (MSCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and findings were verified by subsequent autopsy. The goal was to find out whether the... more

The body of a 44-year-old scuba diver was examined using postmortem multislice computed tomography (MSCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and findings were verified by subsequent autopsy. The goal was to find out whether the important pathomorphological findings for the reconstruction of events and the identification of cause and manner of death could be identified using modem digital cross-sectioning techniques. The findings of a massive vital decompression with pulmonary barotrauma and lethal gas embolism were identified in the radiological images. MSCT and MRI were superior to autopsy in the demonstration of the extent and distribution of gas accumulation in intraparenchymal blood vessels of internal organs as well as in areas of the body inaccessible by standard autopsy.