Electrocardiographic aspects of skin diving

Electrocardiographic (ECG) aspects of skin diving were monitored by means of continuous ECG recording in a pool 15 m deep. Ten regularly trained divers with different levels of experience divid a minimum of three consecutive times, holding their beath, reaching depths of 6 m, 9 m, and 12 or 15 m. The water temperature was 28 degrees C. During the ascending part of these dives, bradycardia was observed in all skin-divers. Minimal heart rate correlated negatively with the diver's experience (number of dives previously performed). In six divers cardiac arrhythmia was observed. Atrial arrhythmias were sometimes isolated occurrences, but more frequently they were multiple. Ventricular arrhythmias tended to be bigeminal. Apparently, forced expiration through the snorkel when surfacing precipitated these rhythmic disorders.