SAFETY continued Diving is the only sport where EVERYTHING changes, just by putting our head underwater. You're no longer a land- lubber, and that changes everything! You can get someone to go skydiving, caving or mountaineering, and the laws of physics will still apply. Underwater - that's another challenge for divers! But why? Our senses no longer function in the same way. Our physiology changes. Blood is distributed differently, body gases are modified, our senses of touch, pressure, pain and temperature (somesthetic sensors) are over-stimulated by the density of the environment, our body weight is balanced out by weightlessness, our communication is reduced to a mini- mum and more. For years, science has focused on the potentially harmful effects of diving, such as decompres- sion illness (decompression sickness and arterial gas embolism). It was a long time before we took a close look at the positive effects of our favorite sport. Recently, several clinical studies have been carried out in Europe and other areas of the world on diving and post-traumatic stress (the most severe stress pathology). The results showed an improvement in stress levels and resilience, suggesting that regular diving could provide long- term protection against the damaging effects of stress. Here are a few explanations: Cardiac coherence and the Hering-Breuer reflex: Hav- ing a regulator in our mouth to breathe pressurized breathing gas forces you to quickly adopt a deep, calm ventilatory rhythm. When you're exploring the underwater world, neu- trally buoyant, deep, slow breathing activates the vagal nerves via the lung stretch sensors (Hering-Breuer reflex), which is a key component of the parasympathetic system. The vagal nerves slow heart rate and promote a state of relaxation. This activation also improves heart rate variability (HRV), which is a good indicator of cardiac health and stress management capacity. Cardiac coherence, a physiological state where the heart, brain and other body systems function in a coordinated man- ner, also has an effect on the production of stress-related hor- mones such as cortisol. When practicing cardiac coherence breathing, cortisol levels in the blood can be reduced, helping to lower stress levels and induce a sense of well-being. Weightlessness and reduced mental heaviness: People
suffering from stress-related mental disorders often feel “heavy,” both physically (mental exhaustion, lack of energy) and mentally (an emotional burden, a feeling of stagnation). Weightlessness during diving can offer a sense of liberation. The fact that our bodies float in the water and that you are weightless during the dive reduces the physical pressure on muscles and joints, which can lead to a feeling of deep relax- ation. The absence of weight can also have a positive influence on the nervous system, helping to reduce physical and mental tension, and enabling the person to momentarily detach themselves from the heaviness they usually feel. Psychologi- cally, this effect can translate into a feeling of floating, light- ness and escape, which may alleviate depressive symptoms, even temporarily.
Return to the Womb (intra-uterine life): Diving evokes a return to our ori- gins, recalling intra-uterine life through a variety of sensations. By reducing gravity, water creates a feeling of weightlessness similar to that of a fetus floating in am- niotic fluid. Famed psychoanalyst Sal- vador Ferenczi stated that this wish to return to the amniotic fluids of the womb symbolizes, in his words, “a wish
Mental preparation session on the boat just before the dive.
to return to the origins of life, the sea.” The muffled sounds underwater recall the sound environment in utero, dominated by maternal heartbeat and blood circulation. The diver's slow, deep breathing is akin to the soothing rhythm perceived be- fore birth. By reducing external stimuli and fixed reference points, immersion promotes a state of security and letting go. This deep sensory experience can awaken archaic memories and explain the sense of well-being and peace felt underwater. “Like a return to our roots, diving awakens in us the memory of fetal life and offers us a second birth.” - Vincent Meurice Healthy versus pathological hypervigilance: Hypervig- ilance, or heightened alertness, comes in two forms: healthy and pathological. The pathological form, often linked to trauma or anxiety, is characterized by irrational fear and dis- abling symptoms (anxiety, sleep disorders, isolation). Con- versely, healthy hypervigilance is selective attention adapted to a specific situation, such as diving. It enables you to react effectively to the demands of the environment (air manage- ment, decompression, currents), promoting concentration, stress management and confidence. Diving, in particular, forces us to refocus on the present moment, eliminating ru- minations. In contrast to pathological hypervigilance, a source
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