Clearing Ears while Surfacing

[TTSkipper]

I have had the same problem myself and posted the question here. I noticed several things about my experiences with this issue as I continue to dive.

1. I have more issue with this on shallow dives, Alot of my dives are beach dives where we will initially go off the beach to about 15-20 fsw and stay there for 1 hour or so watching the fish and taking photos.

2. Cold water affects me more than warm water. I am going to try and use warm water in my hood to see if this helps.

3. Make sure if you are wearing a hood that the water gets to both of your ears by pulling the hood out to the sides to let water in. I am actually thinking of making two vent holes in my hood where my ears are for this reason.

4. Doc's Pro Plugs help out a little. As does staring at a fixed point as was mentioned above.

TTSkipper

 

[wreckchick]

Actually, both times did a SUPER slow ascent, slower than others in my group and as slow as my computer recomended. Did a safety stop longer than my computer recomended by about 30 seconds.

Not sure if it is seasickness or vertigo but it was sure nasty! Wish to find a solution.

You might want to check your computer manual... I know my ascent alarm doesn't go off unless I exceed 60 ft/min. For my own diving I try to ascend at a max of 30 ft/min.

If you think your ears are equalizing at different rates, you might want to slow that down to 10 ft/min. You can do that by starting at 60' (for example) and making sure it takes a full minute before you pass 50', so if you hit 50' before the minute is up, stop and wait until the minute is up and continue through the next 10'.

I had some mild vertigo problems post-dive when I was ascending in the 30-60 ft/min range and once I slowed way down and started incorporating deeper stops, that problem disappeared and I feel better post-dive.

The best part is, even if it doesn't help your ears, the slow ascent rates are good for you anyway!

Rachel

 

[yak]

Just out of curiosity, did you also experience visual disorientation (the "spins")?

Having gone through (land-based) BPPV over a 4 month period last winter due to a sinus infection, I am wondering if you can experience vertigo to a degree that would induce vomiting without also experiencing visual indications.