One benefit to diving

[Littlerayray]

I had just gotten over a cold but my sinuses were still clogged and I wanted to clear them naturally before an infection happened.
What did I do I went for a dive. Because I know that pressure squeeze your sinuses I knew it would help clear the blockage before an infection set in I have been prone to sinusitis as of late it took me 15 minutes to get down to 30ft I would drop a foot or so till I felt pain and then rise a bit drop and rise drop and rise. Constantly clearing my mask of blood and boy oh boy was there ever a lot had my dive buddy a little nervous. Luckily I warned him there would be blood. When I surfaced after over an hr long dive my sinuses were clear and all sinus pressure was gone. But I do recommend taking your time and don't use the Valhalla maneuver to clear your ears. Since mucous can create a reverse block and make it very difficult to surface

 

[Storker]

mucous can create a reverse block and make it very difficult to surface

That can happen anyway, valsalva or not.

If my sinuses are blocked, I don't dive. There are quite a few things I'd rather experience than a reverse block at depth. The ocean will be there also after my sinuses have cleared.

IMO you were lucky.


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[Littlerayray]

That's why I took my time I never use the Valhalla maneuver for that reason my instructor who I dive with on a regular basis who has logged over 5000 dives in his career was also with me at the time knows my limits and told me to take my time yes I took a risk bit it was calculated as with every time we dive I knew what to do and did not exceed my comfort level I was also prepared to thumb the dive at any given moment

 

[Storker]

I was also prepared to thumb the dive at any given moment

Sure. Imagine you got an unresolved reverse block at 10m. Thumb the dive. Where are you gonna go? Up? With an unresolved reverse block?

In my opinion, what you did went against all sensible advice. You're posting your story in the Basic forum. I really hope there are no newbies who will try to repeat your stunt.



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Typos are a feature, not a bug

 

[Littlerayray]

I've dI've so often my ears clear naturally now with no effort on my part which also happened on my dive yesterday if a reverse block were to happen it would have happened on the surface since I start clearing by swallowing as I'm getting suited up I see and appreciate your concern and yes I admit I took a risk was I lucky no my training and experience kept me safe so far this year I have over 40 dives now it would have been well over 100 just this summer alone but because of a traumatic experience I took a 2.5 month hiatus do I recommend doing this to a newly certified ow diver or a diver with shaky confidence no I do not I was just merely stating how well it worked for clearing my head

 

[boulderjohn]

Since this has been posted in the Basic Scuba forum, where beginning divers may come and seek advice from more experienced divers, we need to be as clear as possible about this:

The practice described in this thread is absolutely unsafe!

As Storker pointed out, if you find out on descent that you cannot clear your ears and sinuses, you say, "Oh, well, I guess I don't get to dive today." You get out of the water and go home. If, on the other hand, you find out on ascent that you cannot clear your ears, you cannot say "Oh, well, I guess I don't get to go to the surface today." No, you eventually have to surface despite the problem, after which you head for an ENT and probable surgery.

I would like to congratulate Littlerayray for his good luck on that dive and caution other divers that they might not be as lucky should they try it.

 

[Tony387]

I don't dive with sinus problems. Period. It's just not worth it.

 

[The Laconic]

No, you eventually have to surface despite the problem, after which you head for an ENT and probable surgery.

Or, best case, you're crippled with the worst headache of your life for a few hours, hoping it's going to get better and wondering if you should call DAN, until you realize you should throw some decongestants at the problem, so you drive down to Foster's Food Fair in agony, buy some pills and Afrin, apply them both in the parking lot, then go back to the condo to lie down until you are later awakened by the glorious sound of bubbles finally squeaking out of your sinuses.

 

[DA Aquamaster]

I used to have chronic ear and sinus infections, until I started diving (at age 18). After I started diving the more frequent movement of air in and out of my sinuses and ears seemed to permanently cure the problem.

But even a that, I don't dive when I have congested sinuses or ears. It's just asking for trouble.

If I am on the long end of a cold with some residual goop in sinuses that will still equalize easily, then yes I will dive and the dive tends to clear out any residual mucus.

But the baseline requirement is that I can easily clear. A ruptured sinus or a round window injury in your inner ear can permanently end your diving career.

 

[Littlerayray]

Ok let me reiterate my sinuses weren't congested to the point that made inhaling and exhaling through my nose difficult and blowing my nose only produced small amounts of mucous so my congestion level was not bad and I would never dive with a cold but I was prepared for the pain and possibility of difficulty clearing my sinuses I should have been more clear but upon rereading everyone's statements I realized my mistake in my writing I must also state I am prone to nose bleeds but only while diving and especially in the spring during allergy season at the slightest hint of sinus congestion I will bleed it's natural and perfectly fine it doesn't hurt to bleed and afterwards my sinuses are clearer because of it

---------- Post added November 27th, 2015 at 12:04 PM ----------

My main purpose of this thread was to make beginner divers aware that bleeding is fine and perfectly normal in most cases and to not panic if you bleed or see another person bleed that is unless sharks are aroun