Oxygen Stores

Abstract

Before beginning the chapters on voluntary diving the O₂ stores should be considered because they are the main factor in support of natural diving. Within this chapter I will characterize the similarities and differences between land-bound and aquatic reptiles, birds, and mammals. The O₂ stores are discussed as three compartments; the lung, blood, and muscle. This is followed by a collation into the total available body O₂ stores of five basic types of divers in which there is information on natural diving to relate to the store.