The Art of Manliness
#141: The Science of Freediving and Holding Your Breath With James Nestor
Sep 24, 2015
James Nestor, Author of the book Deep, discusses the sport and science of freediving. Topics include human body reactions underwater, tips for holding your breath longer, and the use of freediving in studying oceanic animals and dolphin communication.
32:10
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Quick takeaways
- Free diving allows for intimate interactions with marine life, providing researchers with unique insights and challenging traditional scientific perspectives.
- The human body exhibits unique adaptations when submerged in water, such as the mammalian dive reflex, which protect the body from deep water pressures.
Deep dives
The Science of Free Diving
Free diving is explored as a competitive sport and a tool for scientific research. Competitive free divers can reach depths of 300 feet on a single breath, while researchers use the practice to study whales and dolphins up close. The human body exhibits unique adaptations when submerged in water, such as the mammalian dive reflex, which lowers heart rate and redirects blood flow. These reflexes serve to protect the body from the pressures of deep water. The connection between humans and the ocean is further explored through echolocation, as blind individuals are able to navigate and see with sound, much like dolphins and whales.
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