Why should cavern divers avoid excessive physical exertion?

Avoiding excessive physical exertion is essential for cavern divers primarily to minimize the risk of fatigue and conserve air during the dive. Cavern diving often takes place in tight spaces and can involve challenging currents or difficult navigation, increasing the strain on the diver. When a diver exerts themselves physically, they can rapidly deplete their air supply due to increased breathing rates, which can lead to an early ascent or an emergency situation due to insufficient air.

Conserving energy not only helps in managing one’s air consumption but also aids in maintaining composure and decision-making while navigating in potentially hazardous underwater environments. Moreover, minimizing fatigue allows divers to enjoy the dive experience more fully and increases their safety as they remain in better physical condition throughout the dive.

While other factors, such as maintaining body temperature, focusing on navigation, or attempting to increase speed, are important in specific scenarios, the primary concern in the context of minimizing risks and ensuring safety is managing physical exertion to avoid fatigue and conserve air efficiently.