Getting sick underwater

[SteveC]

Whats the best way to vomit underwater? I've been told that the best way is to vomit through the regulator, but was wondering if this might cause a problem with the next breath. Maybe holding the reg firmly in your hand but removing it from the mouth might be safer?

Thanks,
Steve

 

[Ishie]

If I'm going to hurl underwater and feel it coming (I always feel it), I chuck through my octopus (sorry, buddies). Since I have a sealed Mares first stage, I figure it's more difficult to service and clean the reg. I can attest that after throwing up through the octopus, the next breath (or breath between heaves) is not only fine for breathing, but isn't icky and in some ways is far more pleasant than the first breath when throwing up normally.

I would not take the reg out of your mouth because vomiting, particularly a retching vomit can cause you to gasp in instictively, thus taking in salt water. It also increases your chance of getting salt water in your mouth in general, which I can't speak for others, but makes me feel a lot sicker. In fact, there's been a number of occasions (since if I'm sick, I'm usually sick at the surface), where I've thrown up through my reg on the surface because otherwise I take in salt water, which makes me feel even more miserable.

Just thoroughly clean your reg and/or octo afterwards and possibly get it serviced after the dive trip.

But you truly can do anything through a reg. I have sneezed through them, and just last weekend, learned you can really cough, hack, and choke through them if you're dumb enough to attempt to manually inflate your BC and then take a breath of water rather than a breath of air.

 

[O'Malley]

On a recent trip to Coz, I learned my lesson...stay away from the guacamole speard during SI!

 

[LuvWarmH2O]

Seriously, thanks for starting this thread.

If you are spewing into your reg and need to take an inhalation, does purging the reg right before inhalation help? On my last dive I felt queasy and held it for a safety stop and everything. Once on the surface, I hearled like crazy. Thankfully, I have not had to heave underwater, but I am curious about the process. I was not taught anything about this in open water certification. What do you do when you are 80' down and need to heave?

 

[almitywife]

i was taught (and use) the method of purging your reg continuously right in front of your mouth and doing the deed whilst purging so i have a air bubble of sorts directly in front of my mouth-and yes, i could breath air in from this.

also helps if your hangin from the hang line so you know your dive is almost over so I know that im not going to run out of air completely.

the idea of vomitting into my reg has never been appealing to me - and if i had to, i would use the option of doing it to my occy or changing over to my occy soon after

 

[pipedope]

I find that keeping the reg in my mouth and blowing chunks right through it and breathing when I can or need to works just fine.

I have been sick underwater a few times and in most cases the exciting part was the mob of fish to clean up the sudden food fest.

Now, blowing chunks in a hard helmet is not so much fun.

 

[craborn]

I use aqualung regs. I have hurled underwater before and there is nothing there afterwards due to the exhaust it is all taken out and the next breath is clean. it was still a little nasty hehehe i suggest leaving a reg in because if you take it you may choke and cause more of a problem.... thanks clay

 

[cnctina]

Did you all take a padi class on hurling through regulators. You all seem to be advanced regulator heavers. You could get a Chunk Blowing Certificate.

 

[cnctina]

Blow chunks with a DM and get an up-grade to Advanced Chunk Blowing.

 

[dbulmer]

Tut, tut, I would think A Fundamentals course in Chunk Blowing would be a better bet - after all team Chunk Blowing would be more fun