Evaluation of scuba diving work load

Abstract

Divers' heart rates were measured under real ocean diving conditions with the purpose of evaluating the workload during SCUBA diving. For the subjects, all-out tests were conducted and evaluated in each of the following conditions: 1. ergometer cycling, 2. ergometer cycling using diving regulator, 3. fin-swimming in a swimming pool with diving equipment. No significant heart rate difference was found between the pre-dive and post dive of each subject; although, in novice divers, high heart rates such as 140/min or more were observed especially during the dive gear wearing phase on the topside and/or floating on the surface phase, suggesting there should be some high heart rate inducing factors, other than the exercise, like stress. Whereas, in the results of the all-out tests, the heart rate for fin-swimming was 16-18 beats/min lower, as well as 5.7 -14.2 ml/kg/min lower for V̇C2max, as compared to the ergometer cycling. This may suggest that fin-swimming like scuba diving could give a diver some degree of physical load without on increased heart rate.