It takes more than just pasta and sauce to keep this crew running. Even though all the personnel at PLRP have high-energy days, as a dietitian I am most concerned with fueling the scuba divers and DeepWorker pilots. The caloric needs and metabolic demands of DeepWorker pilots have not been researched, but those of scuba divers have. The diving crew here is in the water for an average of 3-4 hours per day and it is imperative that they are well fed with a diet high in complex carbohydrates, moderate protein and adequate fluids. Keeping them fed well not only prevents an accumulated energy deficit, but ensures they are operating at their mental peak.The aerobic stresses of scuba diving can be quite physiologically demanding… especially when you are in cold water for up to 4 hrs a day for 2 weeks straight like the PLRP diving crew.
Dana showing off her pizza tossing skills. (Photo: Jeffrey Berman)
Some of these environmental stress here which increase the divers energy needs include:
- Cold stresses from submersion in cold water
- Themoclimes
- Currents
- Increased ambient pressure
- Raised partial pressure of O2
- Increased resistance to movement
- Weight and drag of diving equipment (my bike weighs 14 lbs, diving equipment is way too heavy, if you ask me)
- Higher breathing resistance
Research estimates energy expenditure to be about 300 kcal per 30 minute dive in 30-60 feet of water. Energy needs are higher for very recreational divers (like myself) who thrash around for 30 minutes just getting flippers on. For the PLRP diving crew this may add up to an additional 1200 calories per day expended from the time in the water!
As for feeding a crew of 40-60 people from a residential kitchen with one cook (me), no grocery store within a 50-kilometer radius… stay turned for details on organizing this kind of food service.
-Dana
