Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was to examine the anxiety responses of divers in warm (29 deg) and cold (18 deg) water with and without a wet suit. Ten certified male scuba divers served as subjects. The exercise session consisted of 30-min of submerged finning at a power output equivalent to 35 of each subjects underwater VO2 max. Each subject completed four swimming trials. Results revealed that state anxiety increased significantly (P<0.03) under the cold condition without a wet suit and the warm condition with a wet suit. There was also a significant increase (P<0.02) in body awareness in the cold condition without a suit and the warm condition with a wet suit. Results suggest that the customary anxiolytic effect associated with aerobic exercise on land may not occur following underwater finning for 30-min at a power output of 35 VO2 max. Verf.-Referat