Goal.To study the indicators of vital capacity of the lungs (VEL) of submariners specializing in swimming in the stayer, sprint and underwater disciplines in 2000, 2010, 2020.Materials and methods. The study involved submariners aged 20 to 25 years (10 women and 10 men), in each time period. Each athlete is a member of the national team of the Krasnoyarsk Territory and has a sports category not lower than the candidate for master of sports. The following methods are used in the work: the method of evaluating morphofunctional indicators. Results. Analyzing the indicators of the VEL in the time period, we can note the fact that in 2020 the indicators are higher compared to previous years, which indicates high functional capabilities of the respiratory apparatus. As athletes divers specializing in underwater distances, have the highest rate of VC in comparison with athletes with long-distance runners and sprinters. Conclusion. The data obtained in the course of the study can serve as an effective pedagogical tool in the training of submariners. The study allows us to summarize that women and men who are engaged in underwater sports in 2020 have higher rates of VEL than athletes of 2000 and 2010. Intensive training regimes of highly qualified athletes, in cyclical sports, place increased demands on the external breathing apparatus, and scuba diving is just the kind of sport where the cardiorespiratory system plays a significant role.