Dive Science

Water pulls heat from your body 20-25x faster than air at the same temperature. Here's the physics of thermal conductivity, real hypothermia timelines, and why wetsuits actually work.

Sound travels 4.5x faster underwater, which sounds useful until you realise it destroys your ability to tell which direction it's coming from. Here's the physics behind directionless hearing underwater.

Red disappears within the first few metres of any dive, gone almost entirely by 10 metres. Here's the physics of why water eats colour, and why your brain doesn't notice until you see a photo.

"Oxygen tank" is one of diving's most persistent myths. Here's what's actually in your cylinder, and why pure oxygen becomes toxic at just 4-6 metres.

Nitrox extends your bottom time by reducing nitrogen, but it actually shortens your maximum depth. Here's the physics behind enriched air, MOD calculations, and why the trade-off works.

Johannesburg's elevation quietly changes the physics of every dive. Here's why altitude steepens the pressure gradient, shortens no-decompression limits, and why your computer setup actually matters.

Everything really does look about a third bigger and a quarter closer underwater. Here's the physics behind the illusion, and why it flips at longer range.