Are anxiety and panic problems discussed in scuba diving instructional materials?
Dr. Morgan: No. Terms like “anxiety” and “stress” don’t appear in the index of many books commonly used by national certifying bodies involved in scuba training. Panic, along with the problems that can occur in scuba diving as a consequence of panic, isn t even addressed in these training manuals. Back to list of questions How do men and women compare on the incidence of panic behavior while diving? Dr. Morgan: Surveys indicate that more men than women take part in scuba diving. One recent study of 245 scuba divers revealed that 71 percent of the respondents were men, and 29 percent were women. The incidence of panic was significantly higher in women (64%) as compared to men (50%). However, a greater percentage of the men (48%) than women (35%) perceived the events as life-threatening. Back to list of questions Can individuals with high anxiety be trained in techniques that will reduce the risks of panic? Dr. Morgan: Apparently not. The use of interventions based on procedures such as
