diving, the act of work or recreation in an underwater environment. The main health effects are related to the increased pressure to which the person is subjected as the ambient pressure generally increases by 1 atm (14.7 pounds per square inch) for each 33 feet of descent below the water surface. Conditions that warrant caution about diving include obesity, diabetes, alcoholism, epilepsy, drug abuse, and respiratory disorders, including allergic rhinitis. See also decompression sickness, diving reflex.
