Diving with a self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA) is becoming a more and more popular sport and leasure time activity. Professional training of divers is one of the specific professional activities carried on within the framework of Fire Rescue Service of the Czech Republic. Values of heart rate in freshmen undergoing a basic diving training and in experienced divers, participants of a follow up course, were monitored. The values of heart rate during the training drafts in the swimming pool and during the drafts outdoors were monitored. The course of heart rate values were compared to the time record of work of a diver and particular time intervals of the record were compared to the particular working activity undertaken by the diver or an event during the draft. Repeated records are more useful for evaluating reactivity of a particular person to situations under stress. Besides the work load, the comparison of measured values enables evaluation of mental and emotional load which influences significantly overall working capacity. Presented results contribute to the evaluation of an actual state of an organism and the assessment of its physical and mental readiness to full performance. The author also reflects on the organization and quality of providing health care to specialists – divers in the Czech Republic and abroad.

        Key words: heart rate, diving, barotrauma, health care