If we consider the heat production factors effecting divers, we already know that the net heat production in cold water at 60 feet depth without currents or exertion utilizes 3,000-4000 calories in 20 minutes. In one hour this would be 9,000 to 16,000 calories or sufficient energy in air for five to eight days of normal activities. Physiologically, this intense heat production is an unusual and extreme fever. It is the rapid and efficient heat transfer to the aqueous environment that enables divers to function during such extreme thermogenesis. Endurance of the extreme thermogenesis and extreme heat loss in water varies with the physiology and conditioning of the diver.
Compression combines with the thermogenesis to further increase thermodynamic activity.
Exertion and the chill factor of water currents act to further increase the rate of heat loss and demand for greater thermogenesis. So great may be the heat generation that gases cannot be exchanged across the lungs and toxicity if not asphyxia results. Examining the decompression tables, it is clear that the rate and pattern of decompression is more accurately an approximation of the time required to allow re-balancing of theoretic heat production and heat loss factors in a theoretically uniform aqueous environment. In the proposed model of diving as a hyperthermic phenomena, warm water dives must logically have a different heat exchange rate than dives in cold waters. In warm water, the rate of heat loss is reduced, therefore requiring more time to equilibrate with biological heat production.