Neal Pollock

Thermal stress

A rapid chilling of superficial skeletal muscles (conductive cooling) creates a crippling weakening.

Thermal issues affect the comfort, performance and decompression stress experienced by divers. The impact varies with the timing, direction and magnitude of the thermal stress. Thermal protection can be provided by a variety of passive and active systems. Active systems should be used with particular care since they can markedly alter inert gas exchange and decompression risk.

Management of decompression stress

World-renowned diving medicine expert Dr Neal Pollock gave everyone a lot to think about with his talk on the thoughtful management of decompression stress.

Neal looked at the many factors that can alter decompression stress and the practical strategies all divers can use to optimise decompression safety.

“It is increasingly common for divers to rely on dive computers for their decompression safety. Dive computers do not yet measure or integrate a multitude of factors that can alter decompression stress.”- Dr Neal Pollock.