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A chamber dive is different from actual diving
in risk as well as consequence. A person in the
dry can take more oxygen for a longer time
without convulsing.
It's probably because the
immersion effect (loss of gravity) increases active
blood volume (no pooling in lower body), thereby
sending more blood to the brain. A higher blood
volume counters the brain's attempt to choke
down on blood flow during hyperoxia. Immersion
diuresis results from the same change -- the
body perceives the blood volume is too high
when gravitational pull is lost. It also happens
when you lie down -- a reason for needing to go
to the bathroom shortly after hitting the sack.
Thus, theoretically lying down in a chamber should
give a higher risk than sitting, but it seems
that any dry exposure is less likely to cause
oxygen convulsions than a wet exposure.
Secondly, consequence: It's no big deal to tox
in a dry chamber. Thus, convulsions may be an
acceptable risk.
Conclusion: risk and consequence are both low
in the dry, and are both high underwater.
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