Effects of water temperature on performance: a practical evaluation of a neutral buoyancy facility

Manual and cognitive performance of two female and four male divers was evaluated in "cold" and "warm" water in a Neutral Buoyancy Facility (NBF). A test battery of six manual and cognitive tests was applied in a fixed sequence in three separate, 3-h dives: Dive 1) Water temp.: 1...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inAviation, space, and environmental medicine Vol. 62; no. 3; p. 241
Main Authors Bolstad, G, Myrseth, E, Holand, B, Påsche, A
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.03.1991
Subjects
Adult
Body Temperature
Cognition - physiology
Female
Humans
Male
Sex Factors
Task Performance and Analysis
Temperature
Water
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Summary:Manual and cognitive performance of two female and four male divers was evaluated in "cold" and "warm" water in a Neutral Buoyancy Facility (NBF). A test battery of six manual and cognitive tests was applied in a fixed sequence in three separate, 3-h dives: Dive 1) Water temp.: 18-19 degrees C, wet suit 3-5 mm thick; Dive 2) Water temp.: 32-33 degrees C bathing suit and T-shirt; and Dive 3) Water temp.: 18-19 degrees C, tailor made wet suit 6.5 mm thick. No significant differences in performance between the three conditions were recorded. Mean rectal temperatures decreased by 1 degree C in all dive conditions, except in females in Dive 2. Ventilation was significantly higher in Dive 1 than in Dives 2 and 3. Thermal discomfort was reported only after 2 h in Dive 1. We suggest that support divers may work safely, comfortably and effectively for at least 2 h in water of 18-19 degrees C, if dressed in thermal protective wet suits.
ISSN:0095-6562