Evaluation of energy requirements from body mass, lean body mass, fat content, and energy intake in GUSI dives.

This study reports the changes in body composition measured during 6 deep saturation dives, the depths and the working hours performed during the dives, and the effects of these parameters on the energy requirements. Changes in lean body mass could be avoided if the working days amounted to 40-45% of the total dive time. Energy requirement depended not only on working days but also on the diving depth. Physical work at great depth requires a disproportional increase in the energy requirements beginning between 200 and 360 m. Under working conditions at 450 msw, energy requirements increased about 30% relative to the total energy needs under normal conditions.