OBJECTIVES: To better understand how human error contributes to U.S. Navy diving accidents. BACKGROUND: An analysis of 263 U.S. Navy diving accident and mishap reports revealed that the human factors classification were not informative for further analysis, and 70% of mishaps were attributed to unknown causes; only 23% were attributed to human factors. METHOD: Five diving fatality reports were ...

The early life stage of long-lived species is critical to the viability of population, but is poorly understood. Longitudinal studies are needed to test whether juveniles are less efficient foragers than adults as has been hypothesized. We measured changes in the diving behaviour of 17 one-year-old king penguins Aptenodytes patagonicus at Crozet Islands (subantartic archipelago) during their fi...

During sexual conflict, males and females are expected to evolve traits and behaviours with a sexually antagonistic function. Recently, sexually antagonistic coevolution was proposed to occur between male and female diving beetles (Dytiscidae). Male diving beetles possess numerous suction cups on their forelegs whereas females commonly have rough structures on their elytra. These rough structur...

INTRODUCTION We report the case of a 19-year-old male military recruit who presented for a screening physical for U.S. Naval Special Warfare and Diving Duty. During his screening physical examination, an exophytic pericardial cyst was discovered. Subsequent work-up revealed normal cardiopulmonary function despite this large 7-cm mass, but the candidate was disqualified due to concerns regarding...

BACKGROUND Environmental stressors require the professional diver to undergo a complex process of psychophysiological adaptation in order to overcome the demands of an extreme environment and carry out effective and efficient work under water. The influence of cognitive and personality traits in predicting underwater performance and adaptation has been a common concern for diving psychology, an...

Anthropogenic underwater sound in the environment might potentially affect the behavior of marine mammals enough to have an impact on their reproduction and survival. Diving behavior of four killer whales (Orcinus orca), seven long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas), and four sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) was studied during controlled exposures to naval sonar [low frequency active...