Ant Williams can chill underwater for as long as it takes you to cook a steak. Photo: Mike Smolowe
The mammalian diving reflex is a unique set of evolutionary adaptations leftover from a time when all life developed in the oceans. The diving reflex, as well as the swimming reflex, are an inherent part of human nature and can be observed in newborns and infants when placed in an aquatic environment.
Despite the majority of mammalian species losing many of the biological ties that connect us to the oceans (ie. our lungs don’t function particularly well underwater), we are still inherently connected to our ocean dwelling ancestors. The diving reflex is a remnant of some of the features that allowed those relatives of the past to survive in the water. It’s triggered when a mammal’s face comes in contact with or is submerged in cool water. When this occurs, receptors are activated within the nasal and sinus cavities as well as areas in the face connected to the trigeminal nerve. Information that the face has encountered water is transmitted to the brain and the autonomic nervous system through the vagal nerve, resulting in the immediate closure of the airway as well as a number of physiological changes to optimize the body’s conservation of oxygen. The changes that begin upon initiation of the diving reflex include:
1. A reduction of the heart rate (bradycardia) by approximately 10-25% occurs immediately upon facial contact with water (even simply splashing the face with water will achieve this effect). The slowing of the heart rate reduces the rate of oxygen entering the bloodstream allowing the body to conserve oxygen and for vital organs to more efficiently use it. For freedivers, the result of bradycardia is an extension of time spent underwater.
2. Peripheral vasoconstriction (the narrowing of blood vessels to reduce blood flow through the muscular contraction of the blood vessel walls) which takes place with slight increases in atmospheric pressure resulting from immersion in water. Capillaries in the extremities (fingers, toes, hands, feet, arms, and then legs) begin to constrict which restricts blood flow to those areas and directs it towards the vital organs, which include the heart, lungs, and brain – all of which are fueled by significantly higher amounts of oxygen than other peripheral organs.
3. Blood shift: upon diving the atmospheric pressure increases with depth where according to Boyle’s law, the lungs and the air contained inside of them will compress as the freediver descends beneath the surface. Due to the peripheral vasoconstriction initiated by the diving reflex, blood will be shunted from the extremities into the vital organs and thoracic (chest) cavity resulting in a higher percentage of blood volume in this area that will occupy the space created by the compression of the air inside of the lungs. Blood, which is similar in many forms to ocean water will not be able to be compressed due to its liquid/fluid nature and will retain its volume regardless of the depth that a diver may reach. Since the blood fills the empty space caused by the compression of air at depth (the result of a pressure differential in the lungs), the lungs will not collapse due to the increased atmospheric pressures experienced. Blood shift also occurs in the other organs of the body in a similar manner and with the same result.
4. Splenic contraction: as part of the diving reflex, the spleen will experience contractions when a diver is subjected to the atmospheric pressures of depth. Typically, the spleen acts as a reservoir for large volumes of blood which are circulated through it and in conjunction with the volumes of blood required by the blood shift discussed above, the spleen will contract and subsequently release blood into the circulatory system. The additional volume of blood that enters the body as a result of the splenic contraction will not only increase the amount of oxygen available to the system but also help to increase the supportive fluid capabilities of the blood in the body’s lungs and other organs.
The mammalian diving reflex is an evolutionary adaptation that allows us to dive underwater for extended periods of time. In response to facial contact and submersion in water, the diving reflex will be activated resulting in a decrease in heart rate (bradycardia) which is magnified by states of apnea and increased atmospheric pressure, the diversion of blood from the extremities to the thoracic cavity (peripheral vasoconstriction), the movement of blood into the lungs and other vital organs to prevent collapse at depth (blood shift), and splenic contractions with aid in the blood shift at greater depths and pressures. As freedivers, the mammalian dive reflex is essential to being able to remain underwater for extended periods of time and it can be strengthened over time to improve diving performance through experience and intentional/directed practice.
