An Underview Effect? Psycho-Social Impacts of Saturation Diving Among Aquanauts

Aquanauts—people who live and work underwater for extended periods—have anecdotally reported cognitive shifts in how they perceive the ocean environment and their role in it. This experience bears resemblance to the cognitive shift astronauts have experienced when first seeing our planet from space, dubbed “The Overview Effect.” This shift involves an intense feeling of awe that increases astronauts’ sense of connection to humanity and the entire planet. In this study, we used semi-structured interviews with aquanauts to document their experiences living underwater. Results show that aquanauts do indeed experience shifts in cognitive, affective, behavioral, perspectival, and relational areas that strengthen feelings of connectedness and commitment to the marine environment. However, the effects of the experience varied between aquanauts, indicating a potential “Underview Effect” that may occur on a spectrum of intensity with a number of core features.