If the question was can I thumb a dive, then yes. But it wasn't
Anyway, agree on the OPs decision, good job
When to abort a dive?
- Thread starter JudasFm
- Start date
Please register or login
Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.
Benefits of registering include
- Ability to post and comment on topics and discussions.
- A Free photo gallery to share your dive photos with the world.
- You can make this box go away
If the question was can I thumb a dive, then yes. But it wasn't
Anyway, agree on the OPs decision, good job
I would never continue a dive with significant ear pain. You definitely did the right thing.
What happened is not clear. You could have hit the water in such a way as to drive a pressure wave down your external auditory canal (kind of like slapping your ear really hard), or you could somehow have driven some air up your Eustachian tube from grunting or Valsalvaing as you hit the water. But whatever it was, it wasn't normal and it didn't go away immediately, and it would have been a very bad idea to have tried to dive.
If the symptoms completely resolved, your hearing is normal, and you can equalize without pain, I don't think you necessarily need to see a physician at this point. If you give this another try and have the same thing happen, though, I'd get it checked out.
What happened is not clear. You could have hit the water in such a way as to drive a pressure wave down your external auditory canal (kind of like slapping your ear really hard), or you could somehow have driven some air up your Eustachian tube from grunting or Valsalvaing as you hit the water. But whatever it was, it wasn't normal and it didn't go away immediately, and it would have been a very bad idea to have tried to dive.
If the symptoms completely resolved, your hearing is normal, and you can equalize without pain, I don't think you necessarily need to see a physician at this point. If you give this another try and have the same thing happen, though, I'd get it checked out.
Taking this point to helicopter level, all serious divers would tell you this:
"you can abort any dive at any time for any reason, no questions asked".
That isn't just a cute quote. It's part of "diving culture". The more serious people are about the sport, the more they understand that not every dive is going to happen.
R..
"you can abort any dive at any time for any reason, no questions asked".
That isn't just a cute quote. It's part of "diving culture". The more serious people are about the sport, the more they understand that not every dive is going to happen.
R..
- Messages
- 2,734
- Reaction score
- 752
- # of dives
- 500 - 999
I'm glad you called the dive and it sounds like you'll be seeing a doctor soon.
I had to do a hyberbaric chamber dive once and I had some ear pain going down. The over eager doctor was really pushing me to go down. I refused to let him push me too fast but it was still faster than I was comfortable with.
I ended up having ear fullness and discomfort for nearly 6 weeks after the chamber ride. Thank goodness he didn't force me to rupture my eardrum! If I hadn't insisted on slowing down I'm sure he would have.
Every time you dive, even in a chamber, you are the only one who can judge how your ears feel. You must be in control. Call the dive if you have pain, or go more slowly if you're not clearing. Don't ever let anyone push you into doing anything you're not comfortable with.
Good job and good decision on your part!
I had to do a hyberbaric chamber dive once and I had some ear pain going down. The over eager doctor was really pushing me to go down. I refused to let him push me too fast but it was still faster than I was comfortable with.
I ended up having ear fullness and discomfort for nearly 6 weeks after the chamber ride. Thank goodness he didn't force me to rupture my eardrum! If I hadn't insisted on slowing down I'm sure he would have.
Every time you dive, even in a chamber, you are the only one who can judge how your ears feel. You must be in control. Call the dive if you have pain, or go more slowly if you're not clearing. Don't ever let anyone push you into doing anything you're not comfortable with.
Good job and good decision on your part!
flots am
Contributor
- Messages
- 3,226
- Reaction score
- 1,859
- # of dives
- I just don't log dives
I've called probbaly a dozen dives in my life, with causes ranging from "the water looks like it's getting angry" to "my buddy looks anxious"
Never once has it been a bad decision to stay out of the water and you don't owe anybody an explanation. In fact the right time to call a dive is when you first start thinking "Should I call this dive". If you ever ask yourself the question, the answer is "yes". There's always next time.
The worst thing that ever happened when I called a dive, was that I had to have an extra beer while waiting for the boat to come back with the rest of the guys. They had spent the last four hours puking over the side of the boat.
flots.
Never once has it been a bad decision to stay out of the water and you don't owe anybody an explanation. In fact the right time to call a dive is when you first start thinking "Should I call this dive". If you ever ask yourself the question, the answer is "yes". There's always next time.
The worst thing that ever happened when I called a dive, was that I had to have an extra beer while waiting for the boat to come back with the rest of the guys. They had spent the last four hours puking over the side of the boat.
flots.
- Messages
- 16,430
- Reaction score
- 5,234
- # of dives
- 1000 - 2499
I would have called that dive. I've only aborted twice since I started. The first time I was a newbie and didn't like the surf and viz. I started out with the others then aborted. Perhaps now I would've gone a bit further out. The 2nd time was last summer when the NJ surf looked a bit more than I wanted to handle. You have to listen to that little voice. With experience, you may start a "sketchy" dive to see how it goes. But always err on the side of caution.
You can call a dive at any time for any reason, and you should never have to explain yourself.
When you're not comfortable - the dive is over.
If your dive buddies feel differently - then find new dive buddies.
When you're not comfortable - the dive is over.
If your dive buddies feel differently - then find new dive buddies.
I second this. My group of friends I dive with go by this. It's gotten to the point when someone says they're going to skip the dive they get multiple pats on the back for it. When I dive with someone for our first time I make sure I bring this up. It's very important. It discourages peer pressure.
Good call, I have done the same for the same reason, no point in pushing the limits on probably what is the weakest point in diving ... your ears.
Personally I wear a hood for two reasons;
1. Keeps me warmer on most dives
2. Prevents sudden traumatic incidents to my ears when doing a backroll if my head is to one side
Personally I wear a hood for two reasons;
1. Keeps me warmer on most dives
2. Prevents sudden traumatic incidents to my ears when doing a backroll if my head is to one side
Similar threads
