Yesterday, I mentioned the Royal Navy’s Submarine Escape Training Tank for training sailors and free divers. The end of the article mentioned something called the “mammalian dive reflex.” As I was jogging last night, I realized that both the article and I glossed over that not-especially-everyday topic. So I did a little work, and came up with a post about According to DeeperBlue, when any mammals – scuba divers included – hit the water, they trigger a physiological response we call the “dive reflex.” In order to conserve energy and avoid hypoxia (running out of oxygen) the body reflexively slows the heart rate and sends blood only to the most vital organs. This reflex is more pronounced in cold water than in warm water – which you can prove for yourself by following this simple experiment – but you can be confident that your body will try to conserve its oxygen at the equator just as it would in the
1. I remember seeing a special on how baby mammals instinctively know how to hold their breath.
Someone needs to mention this to Fear Factor contestants. Every time I see a water stunt on there, the contestants quit as soon as they're under water. It's amazing how some people freak out under water.
Posted at 4:20PM on Jun 16th 2005 by Nicholas