Taravana

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Taravana is a disease among Polynesian island natives who habitually dive deep without breathing apparatus many times in close succession, usually for food or pearls.[1][2]

It seems to be decompression sickness. The usual symptoms are vertigo, nausea, lethargy, paralysis, death. The word taravana is Tuamotu Polynesian for "to fall crazily". These free-divers may make 40 to 60 dives a day, each of 30 or 40 metres (100 to 140 feet).

[edit] References

  1. ^ Rahn, H.; Yokoyama, T. (1965). Physiology of Breath-Hold Diving and the Ama of Japan.. United States: National Academy of Sciences - National Research Council, 369. ISBN 0309013410. Retrieved on 2008-04-16. 
  2. ^ Wong, R. M. (1999). "Taravana revisited: Decompression illness after breath-hold diving". South Pacific Underwater Medicine Society journal 29 (3). ISSN 0813-1988. OCLC 16986801. 

[edit] External links

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