TIME PERCEPTION IN THE DEEP BLUE SEA

Abstract

With increasing depth, underwater performance is impaired, presumably because of a general slowing down of the internal clock. If the internal clock slows down, then produced duration should be longer. We contrasted time production in shallow diving (<10m) and in depth diving (>30m). The study was carried out in the Red Sea, which has a constant temperature of 21 to 22°C, and which provides comfortable diving conditions. A total of 17 trained divers, 15 male and 2 female, ranging in age between 24 and 38 years, completed the task both under water and on dry land (our Context factor). A two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) on mean produced duration supported an additive model, whereby the main effect of Context was significant and that of Depth was marginally significant. We suspect that Context and duration might interact at the individual level, as can be seen for some of the participants.