Bozukkale underwater archeology excavation in terms of diving health

Objective: In this study, it is aimed to evaluate the data obtained from Bozukkale underwater archeology excavations in terms of diving health and safety, and to review the importance of the presence of a diving physician in the field based on the similar studies in the literature. Material and Methods: The research was conducted by collecting data from Bozukkale excavation. Evaluated data were collected at the dive site for 24 days in September 2019, 7 days in October 2020 and 14 days in September 2021. The collected data includes demographic information, diving experience, body mass index, dive profiles, Doppler records, diving equipment and recording of dive-related health problems. Results: During the 2019-2021 Bozukkale excavations, 13 divers were examined and a total of 564 dives were observed. The age of the divers ranged from 23 to 57 (39.9±12), and their body mass index ranged between 19.6 and 32.3 (25.3±3.7). The dives were performed at a depth of 30-42 m and a fixed bottom time of 20 minutes. Square dive profiles were performed due to the work done at the fixed point at the bottom. Decompression stops were done by breathing oxygen on the setup at 6 m. No signs of decompression sickness were encountered during the study, and middle ear barotrauma was observed in only 1 diver. A total of 365 Doppler recordings were taken throughout the study, and 193 of them were of evaluable quality. Bubble signals were detected in 15 of the recordings and all were classified as grade 1 according to the Spencer scale. Conclusion: In Bozukkale excavation, which was carried out by dives with decompression stops, the presence of diving physicians at dive site made the divers feel safe and the dives were safer in terms of diving health. The fact that there was no decompression sickness during the excavation and the noticeably low VGE degrees, which could be an indicator of decompression stress, were considered as a result of safer dive profile. It is thought that oxygen breathing at decompression stops in suitable diving and sea conditions contributes to the formation of lower degrees of VGE by reducing the decompression stress and reducing the risk of decompression sickness.