C02 hit?

[Pitchblack70]

Hi all...! I'm in the process of getting my AOW. Not much experience yet, and I just did my boat/deep water/wreck dive. On the way out, I was great...no seasickness - nothing. Upon surfacing, I got a wracking headache, and threw up about 5 times (the headache lasted about 5 hours.) Googling the symptoms, I suspect it was a C02 shallow breathing issue? I didn't surface particularly quick- followed my guide's directions and the mandatory safety stop. Any thoughts? The experience has turned me off a little from boats, but I'm wondering if it was just a matter of improving my breathing for next time? Thx!!

 

[ffilc]

Hi Pitch,
Don't let this discourage you from boat diving. I experienced your exact symptoms on my very first boat dive: Had a pounding headache after the first dive and spent the rest of the day heaving over the side of the boat. The divers on the boat gave me a lot of advice: Stay hydrated, try some neck stretches to ease the tension upstairs and breath deeply and slowly to avoid CO2 build up. On two other occasions I experienced headaches and I know, that for some reason, I was breathing more shallow than usual. When I breathe properly I never experience headaches. I'm no expert, but your symptoms could also be due to one other thing: Diesel exhaust from the boat. On the two occasions I experienced symptoms on a boat I was also seated in a spot directly in line with the exhaust and in retrospect I recall feeling a bit queasy. Ever since then I make a point of staying well out of the exhaust. So, when I do that and breathe properly (as I always do, except for the occasions noted) I have great boat dives.

Hope this helps.

 

[HowardE]

Hi all...! I'm in the process of getting my AOW. Not much experience yet, and I just did my boat/deep water/wreck dive. On the way out, I was great...no seasickness - nothing. Upon surfacing, I got a wracking headache, and threw up about 5 times (the headache lasted about 5 hours.) Googling the symptoms, I suspect it was a C02 shallow breathing issue? I didn't surface particularly quick- followed my guide's directions and the mandatory safety stop. Any thoughts? The experience has turned me off a little from boats, but I'm wondering if it was just a matter of improving my breathing for next time? Thx!!

Did you rent tanks? It could be bad air.

 

[Cave Diver]

Hi all...! I'm in the process of getting my AOW. Not much experience yet, and I just did my boat/deep water/wreck dive. On the way out, I was great...no seasickness - nothing. Upon surfacing, I got a wracking headache, and threw up about 5 times (the headache lasted about 5 hours.) Googling the symptoms, I suspect it was a C02 shallow breathing issue? I didn't surface particularly quick- followed my guide's directions and the mandatory safety stop. Any thoughts? The experience has turned me off a little from boats, but I'm wondering if it was just a matter of improving my breathing for next time? Thx!!

My first question would be whether or not anyone experienced any symptoms or not to rule out the possibility of a bad fill. If you're the only one to experience the symptoms it could fit CO2.

In regards to breathing, try inhaling slowly, with a slight pause before exhaling fully and another slight pause before inhaling again. You want to be sure not to hold your breath and try to maintain a deep slow rhythm.

 

[mddyver]

I suspect you're right on.

I've had this happen to me while doing surface snorkeling training swims. If I start over-exerting and breathing hard, the headache starts and lasts for hours. It means I'm breathing too shallow and not fully clearing the dead space between my mouth piece and snorkel with fresh oxygenated air, but am breathing in air that has a higher and higher concentrations of CO2. And once the headache starts it doesn't stop. Advil, Tylenol won't work.

At the next training session, I consciously slow my swimming pace such that my breathing is just slightly elevated to a resting breathing rate I can avoid this.

While diving, I always keep my breathing rate as close to or lower than a resting breathing rate as humanly possible. Long slow deep full breaths and and slow full exhales. This means I'm gliding and hovering, more than kicking though out the dive and never get into an aerobic exercise situation underwater. If I ever get into a situation where my breathing rate is beyond a resting rate, I'm working too hard underwater and I stop, breath and think.

Mike

 

[1_T_Submariner]

I too would wonder about the fill. Did the symptoms disapear when back on dry land?

 

[Pitchblack70]

Thanks for the replies. *Could* have been bad air (my dive master brought the tanks from the shop, and I think everyone else had their own.) One other diver got sick - but he didn't have a headache, and has a known history of getting sea sick on boats (he even had a patch on his neck, though it didn't work.)

For the headache, extra strength Advil did the trip about 4 hours later...

It was my first deep dive, so I was definitely breathing somewhat fast. Thx for the advice - I'll consciously slow it down next time. (If my trip out was any indication, at least I'm not prone to good old sea sickness!)

 

[HowardE]

Slowing it down isn't necessarily the answer. Breathing deeply and thoroughly is key (if it was CO2).
"CO2" retention is from shallow breaths, not necessarily a lot of breaths.

The other guy who was sick - used tanks from the same place as you?? If so... I'd be cautious to rent a tank from the same place. They may need a new filter.

 

[Pitchblack70]

No, actually he got air from a different place (and does have a history of getting sea sick on boats.) Still, I'll be careful and see what happens next time around...

 

[waynne fowler]

I'll be careful and see what happens next time around...

Nice! Boat dives rock.
I think the bad air idea is the least likely of the two issues myself. I'm glad you'll give boat dives another chance.. well you'll be glader than I am.