Let’s take a moment to tune into breathing. Notice ourselves inhaling and exhaling. Feel the relationship between lungs, ribs, spine. Feel ourselves breathing in the space where we are. Breathe in; breathe out…

Breathing in, ask: When humans dive, are we ​​marine mammals? Breathing out, Consider:

Humans are mammals. When in the ocean, we can certainly be said to be aquatic, at least temporarily. Certainly “of or relating to the sea.” Certainly “connected with,” and “happening in” the sea. Certainly, the sea is in us.

Marine mammals, evolutionarily, are those that have chosen the water. They are our relatives who came with us from ocean to land, then returned to ocean. No thank you, they said. We will swim.

Pinnipeds are “flipper footed.”

Cetaceans can not survive on land. They have “many adaptations” for aquatic living.

Sirenians are named for sirens: half women, half fish.

Polar bears, lastly, are marine mammals. Fissipeds. They are dependent on the waters, but “least adapted” to them, evolutionarily.

Are humans marine mammals, when in the sea?

***

 Breathe in; breathe out.

***

Consider breath.

Dolphins and whales have smaller lungs than humans (relatively). But they breathe better (excellent exhalers). They breathe less often than humans, and store more oxygen in their bodies.

Breathing in, I feel my lungs; I fill my lungs with ease.

Breathing out, I feel my lungs, I release what is not needed.

Breathing in, I feel my lungs; I fill my lungs with ease.

Breathing out, I feel my lungs, I release what is not needed.

***

Consider structural support.

Most mammals have the same number of vertebrae and ribs. In fully-aquatic cetaceans, these structural supports have evolved to enable smoother swimming, and greater flexibility in the water, away from the necessary structures of terrestrial stability.

Breathing in, I feel my spine and ribs; I feel the structure they offer.

Breathing out, I feel my spine and ribs; I feel how they support me in water, differently from on land.

Breathing in, I feel my spine and ribs; I feel the structure they offer.

Breathing out, I feel my spine and ribs; I feel how they support me in water, differently from on land.

***

Consider comfort.

Mammals maintain a core body temperature. Marine mammals manage extreme conditions underwater by migrating to more hospitable locations, and by having physically evolved thick fur like sea otters, or blubber for insulation, like walruses or manatees.

Breathing in, I notice the temperature outside my body, how it affects my physical and mental experience.

Breathing out, I notice the warmth inside my body, how I carry it with me.

Breathing in, I notice the temperature outside my body, how it affects my physical and mental experience.

Breathing out, I notice the warmth inside my body, how I carry it with me.

***

Consider sound.

Sound travels more efficiently underwater than light. Hearing is a matter of life and death. Three bones in the middle ear—the malleus, the incus, and the stapes—transmit sound to the inner ear in all mammals.

Breathing in, sounds come to me.

Breathing out, I hear where I am.

Breathing in, sounds come to me.

Breathing out, I hear where I am.

***

Consider language.

Orcas have culturally-specific behaviors and languages, depending on their pod of origin. Dolphins use distinctive whistles to identify and distinguish individuals. They respond when called.

Breathing in, I remember those who are important to me.

Breathing out, I know their names.

Breathing in, I remember those who are important to me.

Breathing out, I know their names.

When humans dive, are we ​​marine mammals? Are humans marine mammals, when in the sea?

pronunciation:

Cetaceans: Set-AY-tions

Sirenians: SIRE-IN-ians

malleus, incus, stapes: MALeus, INK-us, STA-pees