First ocean dive!

[cal2632]

My husband and I just returned from a Celebrity Cruise to Bermuda. While there we were able to book a two tank dive with Blue Water Divers. What a great organization to go with for our first 'real' dive experience.

We went first to the wreck of the Hermes. This was purpose sunk so its still quite intact. The big excitement was the appearance of the small school of barracuda that were very interested in one diver's camera. I found I spent so much time checking my gauges and getting excited over the fact that I was going deeper than I had before, that I didn't see as much as I could've. I did notice a good many people having their picture taken sitting on the head so that must be the hot attraction.

The second dive was on a reef. Lots of swim throughs and the 'world's largest lobster' (at least according to my husband). You'll have to get particulars about the second dive from him, as my stomach asserted its dislike of small boats between dives and I didn't feel well enough to gear up and go in. Yes, I know, I would've felt better out of the boat and under water, but I didn't know if I could crawl in full gear and I wasn't up to standing. I had taken Meclizine, but it just didn't seem to do the trick. Anyone have any suggestions? Home remedies? Magic incantations? Anyone know what animal I should sacrifice? One of the dive guides suggested I consider shore diving, but I'm unwilling to give up just yet.

Still, a great time. Bermuda is beautiful. Celebrity has great food. And I have my wreck-diving certificate from Bermuda; the first of many, I hope.

Mona

 

[Xanthro]

If you get seasick, try drinking gingerale, or eating ginger. It has been shown to help some people with seasickness. Drink or eat before you get in the boat.

Xanthro

 

[SCUBAMedicBill]

Sounds like you had a good time. As you become more comfortable with diving at depth, you'll be able to check your gauges without missing too much.

As far as nausea, been there, done that, don't want to again. I have missed more than one dive due to nausea. I even once was able to get my gear on and get in the water and immediately felt better. Problem was I didn't have enough weight and got caught in the swells, and had to be pulled up where I laid on the deck praying to die. But I got better and took a day off and went out again.

What I do is put a Transderm Scopolamine patch on behind my ear the night before. The day of, may even take a Dramamine. I don't believe this is approved by the AMA. The patches may make you very dry, so make sure you hydrate. I find this works well for my, in fact, the Dramamine and Transderm are really good for nausea period. If I take medication that makes me queasy, I take a half Dramamine, and the transderm patches are actually used preoperatively for persons who get nauseous from the anesthesia.

Good luck

Bill :sharks:

 

[jlwest63]

I have heard that the pressure point bands work well. It may be all in your head but it is better then in your stomach.

 

[cmcarver]

You could do a google search for Acupressure and Nausea. That should get info on what the Pressure Bands do. You may find that you can just perform the acupressure yourself and not need the bands. I haven’t had the need for them so I can't say if they work but the bands would help keep your hands free while on the boat. I have seen several other forms of acupressure work especially for head aches so I know it works well. I don't see why the bands wouldn't work unless you put them on wrong.

 

[jonnythan]

Over the weekend someone told me about sea sickness patches.. I can't remember what it was called, but he said his daughter swore by them.

 

[jonnythan]

Found it: scopolamine. Rx only, but easy to get.

 

[Ishie]

The patches are the ONLY thing that holds me when I'm on a fishing boat or a vessel of that size, and they only just do it. Having a whale watching boat go through the Potato Patch was enough to make swimming for shore look like a good option (no, I didn't; suicide)

Once I'm sick, dramamine and its otc cohorts are useless. Only time (either out of the water or sitting on the bottom in no-surge area) heals. I HAVE had some luck by taking otc stuff well before the dive, even taking it sparingly the day before to build up some residual resistance. Won't help on fishing-sized boats, of course, but it's helped with the float on the surface waiting to go down, slight surge, and large vessels like cruise ships.

What's weird is that I don't usually gets motion sick. Something about water...

Ishie

 

[Xanthro]

Have those who tend to get seasick tried closing their eyes and lying down while on the boat? Often that helps. If you can't lie down, close you eyes and put your head down.

Also, if you tend to get seasick, try not to look at anything close while on the boat. This is hard while kitting up, but many people are more affected by seasickness when looking at something close. Even if it is another person's face sitting next to you.

Xanthro

 

[cal2632]

I have no choice but to lie down LOL! The only time I get sick is when the boat is just bobbing up and down. I'm fine shortly after we start moving forward. On this dive, the boat just didn't move far and fast enough between dives to get me on my feet again.

Mona