For the boat captains.... regarding seasickness

[erparamedic]

This is a post that is purely out of curiosity, and may prove helpful to me in a couple months. First I will explain what I do and/or prefer... then can you please tell me if this is acceptable.... please no flaming... I am a landlocked diver, and the last time I did any boat dives was 9 years ago.

I get seasick VERY easily... I know this and I tell the captain and the DM prior to boarding the boat. I prefer to sit at the back of the boat for 2 reasons.... so I can hang over the side to "feed the fish" and so I can be the first one in the water. As soon as I get a few feet down, I'm ok.

Is this a common thing? Is this what most captains prefer? Will the DM generally let the sea-sick folks in the water first.... if requested? Are there any other kindly stated tips and/or advice.

I've seen many sea-sickness posts.... but none that actually address it combined with preferences of the boat captain/DM. I like to be kind and respectful to the dive op that I use.... (but it's quite embarressing that I always come right out and tell them that I'll be puking on the way out and the way back!)

As a side-note....

I think I've tried EVERYTHING out there to combat the sea-sickies.... Bonine, Triptone, ginger, those silly bracelets, etc.... I will be asking my doc for a scopolomine patch prior to my next boat dives.... and try that. The ONLY thing that works for me, is actually decending under the water. My seasickness has been so bad, in the past, that I've actually had to abort the afternoon dives (3 dive days, with lunch at the dock before the 3rd dive), for fear of becoming dehydrated before I would make it the site ( ).

 

[Mike Veitch]

the back of the boat is also the most stable part of the boat so better for sea sick people....

and yes, we want you off the boat first!!! hahaha, less puke to clean up

goood luck, the patch seems to work best

 

[Scubakevdm]

I try to accomodate sea sick folks by putting them in the water as soon as is possible. The Scopamine patch works for many folks that the other medications don't seem to help. Trying to isolate the boat's movement from your heard will help, but takes practice (sea legs). Try to allow the boat to move underneath you, it helps if you don't have any part of the moving boat in your field of view too. Also, the more air you can get on your skin the better off you'll be. If you're not nitrox certified, you may want to consider this as well, because in many cases nitrox will significantly lessen the required surface interval between dives.

 

[scubaaaronh]

I have a friend that is the exact same as you. She is fine as long as the boat is running fast, but as soon as it slows it hits her. she usually has her gear on the quickest and off the boat. If their is time between dives she will jump in and float around until it is time to gear for the next dive. Then she climbs on board gears quickly and back in the water. I havent seen or heard of a capt that has complained about it as long as she explains it up front.

 

[Walter]

Just be careful with exhaust fumes, it can be a problem with some boats, especially at the stern and makes seasickness worse.

 

[Tollie]

Yes seasickness is common... at least some degree of nausia. I find that when the boat is moving (depending on the sea state) there are fewer problems. Its when we moor up and wallow that guests have problems.

I'm sure you know the basics...

The centerline of the boat rocks the least...
Fix your gaze at a fixed point on the horizon...
Try to have light conversation...
Avoid focusing on close work...
Avoid heavy drinking the night before... along with the big breakfast on the day of the dive.

So yes captains want to accomodate guests and would welcome anything that will make your trip more comfortable.

If you do puke on the boat... try not to puke into the wind... shoot for distance and then get some water and clear out your mouth.

A couple of additional thoughts. On diesel boats sometimes the worst place to be is the stern as some boats are smokey and the stern seems to get it... but this is boat dependant. I dont think this is your problem but injesting salt water also contributes to nausia... so keep your mask in place and your reg in your mouth when you are in the water. last if you do vomit under the water keep your reg in your mouth and puke into it. Then switch to your alt and clear out your primary.

What is said is that there are two cures for seasickness... death and land (just kidding). No worries... just enjoy.

Last thought (hopeful)... sometimes over an extended set of dive trips the seasick diver adjusts and over time the problem may become less acute. Good luck... you wont be alone I'm sure.

 

[wreckchick]

If you bring all that up to the boat crew, they should accomodate you. A couple other tricks that might help, if you're better in the water you might be able to gear up in the water instead of on the boat but this will be site dependent; there are also scop pills that people have had success with; and make sure to pre-hydrate so that any fluid lost overboard isn't mission critical.

I wish you the best of luck!

Rachel

 

[scubaaaronh]

Something my Dad used to tell people is if you get sea sick and know you puke when you get sick, to eat pancakes with lots of syrup. Reasoning is if you do get sick it doesn't burn and leave the taste behind which usually causes you to vomit more. He was taught that when he went for his captains license years ago. Also ginger snaps help he usually kept them on the boat all the time, as soon as someone started turning green he would hand the the box to ease their stomach.

 

[Guba]

I have a little propensity for seasickness as well, and I've tried several of the remedies you mentioned. Every person is different, of course, but you might find at least part of this might apply to you. First, I tried the Scop patch and quickly found that it did NOTHING for me. On an overnight trip to the dive site I was sick as the proverbial dog. However, I removed the patch, took a dose of Dramamine and was eating a light breakfast within an hour. Okay, so that isn't going to help you since you said you've already tried other meds. Hopefully, the patch will work for you.
However, I found that I could mitigate the effects at the outset of feeling seasick with another technique that didn't require medication. I found that if I retreated to my bunk (fairly close quarters) and completely sealed myself in (no outside visual references) that I would be fine. I could even read or work on gear...it had no effect as long as I couldn't see out. I know that most dive boats don't have facilities like this, but perhaps you could arrange for a spot where you could minimize the visual input. Uh, be sure to have a "barf bag" with you just in case, of course. When I used meds in conjunction with this technique, I was almost totally free of seasickness altogether.
Good luck and have some great dives.

 

[Divin'Papaw]

Great thread. I struggled with this on my last boat dive, which was a Lake Michigan wreck dive. I was fine while the boat was moving, but once we moored over the wreck and the boat started rocking, it hit me immediately. I was only free of it by descending below 5' or so. It then went away entirely, only to return once out of the water and back on the boat. On my next trip I am going to try meclizine (Dram II) and see if that works for me. I did follow most of the above advice, except for locking myself inside the boat. It didn't have the facilities for that anyway.