If you’ve never heard of Taravana, you’re probably not alone. This diving illness is one that is rarely seen in SCUBA divers, but which is noted more often among freedivers, and sometimes among snorkelers. “Taravana “ is a Tuamotu Polynesian word which translates to “to fall crazily” in English. Here, we’ll take a look at the symptoms and causes of the malady, plus we’ll provide you with some hints for preventing it.
What is Taravana?
Taravana is a kind of decompression sickness or hypoxia which was first noted among Polynesian natives who made their livelihoods by diving to depths between 30 and 40 meters in search of pearls or food. The pearl divers who were first studied would make between 40 and 60 dives per day, normally without taking much more than a breather in between dives – just four to six minutes on average. Descent times normally ranged from 30 to 50 seconds, and total dive time per dive averaged 100 seconds.
The condition was first observed in 1958, and in 1965, Doctor P. Paulev of the Danish Royal Navy wrote about his own experiences with Taravana. His experiment consisted of 60 two-minute dives in a 20-meter submarine escape training tank. Each of his dives lasted for about two minutes, and he allowed himself surface intervals of just one to two minutes. His symptoms began to manifest about 30 minutes after the last dive he made, and within two hours, he was in a complete state of shock. While Polynesian skin divers suffering from Taravana rarely make full recoveries, Dr. Paulev had access to a recompression chamber and was able to recover completely.
Taravana Symptoms
As you might suspect, the symptoms of Taravana are much like those of other types of DCS. Sometimes, visual hallucinations and nausea occur, and sufferers lose consciousness or become lethargic. In more extreme cases, victims become paralyzed or die. Among the Polynesian population first studied, 47 of 235 divers participating sustained Taravana symptoms on a single day, with six of those becoming paralyzed, and two dying.
Preventing Taravana
Luckily for modern SCUBA divers, Taravana is fairly easy to prevent. If you participate in freediving, then you are at a much higher risk for developing the sickness, and if you have a tendency to snorkel while on surface intervals, you should stay at the surface rather than descending while holding your breath.
Avoid making several deep dives during a short period of time, and ensure you pay strict attention to surface interval times. Remember to account for changes in altitude, and while you’re on a dive vacation, consider keeping that dive computer with you at all times. Most sport divers are not at risk for developing Taravana, and so long as you monitor yourself for signs of decompression sickness and avoid taking any risks, you should be fine.
As always, if in doubt, seek medical advice. Although Taravana is an illness that is rarely seen among SCUBA divers, it can happen. Know the signs of DCS, and never ignore them. The faster you seek treatment, the better your prognosis will be.