Time-Series Analysis of Physiological Adaptations to 12-Week High-Frequency Scuba Diving Training in Adult Males

PURPOSE: This study examined physiological adaptations in body composition, cardiopulmonary function, and neuroendocrine responses, including catecholamines and stress-related hormones, during 12 weeks of high-frequency scuba diving training in healthy adult males.METHODS: Ten healthy adult males participated in confined-water scuba diving training conducted five times per week for 12 weeks. Measurements encompassed body composition (weight, body fat percentage, muscle mass, and body mass index [BMI]); cardiorespiratory fitness (forced vital capacity [FVC], peak expiratory flow, forced expiratory flow at 25-75%, maximum expiratory flow at 75%, 50%, and 25%, static apnea capacity [SAC], 5 m dynamic apnea capacity [DAC], and pulmonary function index [PFI]); and neuroendocrine hormones (dopamine, norepinephrine, epinephrine, adrenocorticotropic hormone, and cortisol). Statistical analyses were performed using repeated-measures ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation, and multiple regression.RESULTS: Body fat percentage significantly decreased from weeks 0-4 and 8-12 (<i>p</i><.05). SAC and 5 m DAC declined significantly across all intervals (<i>p</i><.05), whereas PFI increased significantly after 12 weeks (<i>p</i><.05). Dopamine and norepinephrine increased significantly during weeks 0-4 and 8-12 (<i>p</i><.05), while cortisol decreased significantly during weeks 4-8 and 8-12 (<i>p</i><.05). Baseline body fat, BMI, and muscle mass significantly predicted changes in SAC, PFI, and norepinephrine (<i>p</i><.05).CONCLUSIONS: Twelve weeks of high-frequency scuba diving training produced favorable changes in body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness, and neuroendocrine profiles, notably increasing catecholamines and reducing cortisol. The magnitude of these adaptations was influenced by individual baseline characteristics. These findings highlight scuba diving as an effective aerobic conditioning method with potential applications in health promotion and physical training.