alteration of consciousness during deep sea diving is known as
Nitrogen narcosis Narcosis while diving (also known as nitrogen narcosis, inert gas narcosis, raptures of the deep, Martini effect) is a reversible alteration in consciousness that occurs while diving at depth. It is caused by the anesthetic effect of certain gases at high pressure. The Greek word ναρκωσις (narcosis) is derived from narke, "temporary decline or loss of senses and movement, numbness", a term used by Homer and Hippocrates.[1] Narcosis produces a state similar to drunkenness (alcohol intoxication), or nitrous oxide inhalation. It can occur during shallow dives, but does not usually become noticeable at depths less than 30 meters (100 ft).
Elephant seal Elephant seals spend up to 80% of their lives in the ocean. They can hold their breath for more than 100 minutes[13][14] – longer than any other noncetacean mammal. Elephant seals dive to 1,550 m beneath the ocean's surface[13] (the deepest recorded dive of an elephant seal is 2,388 m (7,835 ft) by a southern elephant seal).[15] The average depth of their dives is about 300 to 600 m (980 to 1,970 ft), typically for around 20 minutes for females and 60 minutes for males, as they search for their favorite foods, which are skates, rays, squid, octopuses, eels, small sharks and large fish. Their stomachs also often contain gastroliths. They spend only brief amounts of time at the surface to rest in between dives (2-3 minutes).[7] Females tend to dive a bit deeper due to their prey source.[7]