title: Maine's urchin diver: a survey of diving experience, medical problems, and diving-related symptoms.
abstract: A questionnaire was sent to 1,545 licensed, hand-harvesting Maine urchin divers to survey diving experience, habits, environment, medical problems, and symptoms; 323 surveys were returned. Most of the respondents were young males who considered themselves physically fit; however, 17% were over 41 and 4% considered themselves "out of shape." Most had more than one occupation. Only 2% admitted no formal training, and breadth of experience fell into a trimodal distribution. Over half dove 2-5 times daily, most often under 60 ft. "Bounce" diving without decompression stops was usual, and solo diving was frequent. Eighteen percent had chronic medical problems, and 11% chronically used medications. The majority of diving was vigorous work from boats in the cold Maine ocean, not infrequently during poor weather. Seventy-eight percent described diving-related symptoms, and 2% admitted to recompression therapy. Thus, these respondents depict themselves diving within marginal safety boundaries.
authors.affiliation: Calais Regional Hospital, Maine 04619, USA.
authors.forename: W P
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Butler
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D003080:Cold Temperature; D004242:Diving / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008281:Maine; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012617:Sea Urchins; D012623:Seawater; D012649:Self Concept