Özet:

Aim: Diving causes changes in respiratory functions due to an increase in density of the breathing gas, inhaling cool and dry air, immersion effect, oxygen toxicity, bubble filtration through the lungs. These changes were studied only in deep and specialized dives which are performed mostly by professional divers and generally long-term effects of diving on the lungs were analyzed. Studies about SCUBA dives that became an interest to millions of people lately are scarce. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of short-term SCUBA diving on respiratory functions.  Methods: This study was conducted on 73 School of Sports Training students (49 male, 24 female) during a five-day diving course. Respiratory function tests were carried out daily before morning dives and after afternoon dives for five days. Diving data were collected by dive computers all through the study period. At the end of the course, daily and periodic changes in respiratory parameters were investigated. Results: It was found that FVC and FEV1 values which are related to lung volumes did not change significantly all through the dives. No significant change was observed in PEF values, as FEF25-75 values decreased through five days and the difference was significant on the fifth day. Conclusion: This study showed that short-term SCUBA diving does not affect lung volumes but it may cause an obstruction in the small airways. This result is important due to there are not any studies that evaluate acute effects of consecutive SCUBA dives. Further studies are needed to investigate whether the effects are temporary and their relationship with factors such as dive or durations.

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