Cold diving and good training

[cdiver2]

The signs and symptoms of hypothermia follow a typical course, though the body temperatures at which they occur vary from person to person depending on age, health, and other factors. The impact of hypothermia on the nervous system often becomes apparent quite early. Coordination, for instance, may begin to suffer as soon as body temperature reaches 95°F (35°C). The early signs of hypothermia also include cold and pale skin and intense shivering; the latter stops between 90°F (32.2°C) and 86°F (30°C). As body temperature continues to fall, speech becomes slurred, the muscles go rigid, and the victim becomes disoriented and experiences eyesight problems. Other harmful consequences include dehydration as well as liver and kidney failure. Heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure rise during the first stages of hypothermia, but fall once the 90°F (32.2°C) mark is passed. Below 86°F (30°C) most victims are comatose, and below 82°F (27.8°C) the heart's rhythm becomes dangerously disordered. Yet even at very low body temperatures, people can survive for several hours and be successfully revived, though they may appear to be dead.

 

[CBulla]

<nod> yup! This is what I teach in the First Aid class. There are other factors which can attribute to or enhance effects. In my case, visibility was not exactly out of this world.. in fact, it was about 4' if that. There was also a lot of loose sea weed and light surge.. the extra movement on basically all I could focus on combined with the cold water in the ear and stroke of brilliance in leaving the neoprene skull cover behind... I describe the post dive out of water sensation as having ridden a merri-go-round for about 4 hours at a moderate speed then hopping off.