Water is a magnet for our teeming throng of humanity.

Hypnotized by the pulse of the ocean

Pulled to the paradox of water as a source of life and death.

Prehistoric stone-age swimmer swimming down for dinner.

Green Sahara – dotted with ancient lakes

Cave of Swimmers, Egypt. 10,000 years old.

Paleolake Gobero

• aquatic system of interlinked shallow lakes
• mountains of shucked clamshells
• carved fish hooks.

Sea Nomads – Mokan kids

• underwater vision, can focus underwater, constrict pupil, which increases fine detail
• 50% larger spleen (similar to seals)
• early immersion training
• keen observation, intimate knowledge of marine environment
• storytelling, pass aquatic skills

Mammalian diving reflex

• heart rate slows
• blood vessels constrict
• blood flows away from extremities toward organs

Humble, gentle with coral, respectful of fish. Don’t take more than you need. Ocean will take care of you.

Cold seawater – cure for urban maladies.

Kim Chambers – nerve damaged right leg. blood rush back to extremities after warming up again, oxygen circulate back at higher rate than sedentary. Result nerves regenerate quicker.

Swimming – reduce blood pressure, pressure of water on body.

Best exercise, stimulates mobility without pain.

Buoyance, weightlessness, circulation

Submerge in water, submersion internal quiet, swimming to blankness

Brown fat – burns energy, generates heat

White fat stores energy

Chronic cold exposure – browning effect on white fat, revs up metabolism

Seawater in veins. Get in ocean every day, body calibrates.

Seawater similar mineral content to human blood plasma

Amniotic fluid, utero, fetus, gill slits become jaws and respiratory traits

After drop – mild hypothermia

Ama – cold water exposure effects – loss of hearing, lower heart attacks

Swim like a dolphin, swim like a SEAL

mindlessness (autopilot), biomechanics visualize, mental rehearsal

Physical repetitions – meditation transcends goal of winning, zen practice.

Swimming as self improvement (competition, integrity, dominance, power, adrenaline)

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