1 Estimated workload intensity during volunteer aquarium dives by Buzzacott P, 1,2* Grier JW, 3 Walker J, 4 Bennett CM, 1 Denoble PJ. 1 1 Divers Alert Network, Durham, North Carolina, USA 2 School of Sports Science Exercise and Health, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia 3 Department of Biological Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota, USA. 4 Oregon Coast Aquarium, Newport, Oregon, USA *Corresponding author Abstract Background: This study aimed to characterise the physiological demands of working dives on volunteer divers at a public aquarium in the US. Aims: To estimate the workloads associated with volunteer dives in a US aquarium. Methods: Participants completed a medical and diving history questionnaire. Measurements included blood pressure before and after diving and continuous ECG (Holter) monitoring during diving. Dive profiles were recorded using loggers. Mean workload was estimated from total air consumption. Results: Twenty-seven divers recorded 49 air dives over five days. Two-thirds were male and ages ranged from 40-78 years. Typically, each diver made two dives with a 30-60 minutes surface interval. Mean heart rate while diving was 100 beats per minute. Mean estimated workload during the dives recorded during this study was 5.8 METS, with a range from 4.1 to 10.5. The highest mean recorded heart-rate was 120 bpm over 40 minutes, vacuuming the floor in the shark exhibit. Conclusions: Given the mean age of this sample and the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors (BMI, high cholesterol, and hypertension), it may be prudent for aquariums to regularly monitor SAC/kg and heart rate in volunteer divers, to identify which tasks require the highest workload intensity. Divers with existing cardiovascular risk factors might then be employed in dives with lighter workloads. In conclusion, volunteer dives at this aquarium required a mean workload intensity that was described by recreational divers as moderate. The highest workload, at 10 METS for 23 minutes, would be considered by many recreational divers as exhausting. brought to you by CORE View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk provided by espace@Curtin