Reducing Acute Cardiovascular Stress in Seafarer Diving Training: A Group-Based Segmented Teaching Approach

Background The Marine Personal Survival course is a mandatory component of the Basic Safety (Z01) training required for seafarers’ competency certificates under the STCW Convention. In emergency situations where crew must abandon ship without access to lifeboats or liferafts, they are required to jump into the water from the ship’s side. This high-risk maneuver involves rapid postural change, potential cold-water immersion, and intense autonomic nervous system activation, which can trigger the cold shock response and diving reflex conflict. These physiological reactions frequently cause acute increases in heart rate and blood pressure, potentially leading to serious arrhythmias, myocardial ischemia, or sudden cardiac death. Cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of mortality among seafarers. Integrating sports medicine principles into training can substantially reduce these cardiovascular risks. Purpose This study aimed to apply sports medicine strategies to the diving task in the Marine Personal Survival course for Marine Engineering Technology students, using a group-based segmented teaching method to prevent cardiovascular stress symptoms (chest tightness, dizziness, transient vision blackout), minimize the risk of acute cardiac events, and improve cardiovascular safety for future real-ship operations. Methods The study involved students required to pass a strict diving assessment mandated by the Maritime Safety Administration. Based on extensive practical teaching experience, a “group-based segmented movement teaching method” was implemented. The diving task was divided into key phases (posture preparation, entry angle control, breathing regulation, and post-entry adaptation). Training progressed gradually, incorporating sports medicine techniques such as cardiovascular warm-up, real-time heart rate and blood pressure monitoring, autonomic adaptation drills, and cold-water tolerance preconditioning. Subjective symptoms and cardiovascular parameters were monitored throughout. Results Segmented progressive teaching significantly reduced uncontrolled movements, improved mastery of critical techniques, and markedly decreased the incidence of cardiovascular stress symptoms during training. The method effectively attenuated acute cardiovascular load at water entry, lowering the risk of autonomic conflict-induced arrhythmias. Integration of AI and information technology for post-training recovery monitoring further enhanced students’ cardiovascular adaptation and health management. Conclusions The segmented teaching approach enabled students to successfully pass assessments while achieving better cardiovascular protection for real-ship emergencies. The personal survival diving task represents a high-intensity, acute-stress activity that aligns with sports medicine and cardiovascular health principles. By applying exercise physiology, biomechanics, and rehabilitation knowledge, sports medicine plays a key role in preventing acute cardiac events and enhancing cardiorespiratory fitness among seafarers performing high-risk survival maneuvers.