Getting Vertigo/ The Spins....WHY??? Very Light Headed while diving.

[Adventure-Ocean]

I don't know the technical term but we called it "reverse squeeze". I've had this happen to me many times and a few times I was deep. After diving 30 years I've learned I was born with a under developed maxillary sinus. I now know why I had troubles clearing my left side. I learned while diving if I had trouble getting down I can expect problems coming up. Pressure throughout our sinuses has to equalize on the way up as it does the way down. If there is a problem, vertigo can happen. I would have to resubmerge slightly and start my ascent very slowly when this accurred. My sinus problems could only be detected with a CT scan. If you continue to suffer this vertigo problem I'd suggest getting a detailed check-up of your sinuses.

Adventure-Ocean

 

[Petert71]

I've had this a quite a few times under similar circumstances and it's often caused by an inner ear imbalance for various reasons already indicated. I've had it on more than a few night dives where I've got no visual reference at all.

Usually I can counter it fairly effectively by simply levelling out or pausing. I've had plenty of mild reverse squeeze before, but nothing that can't be worked through.

A buddy once experienced vertigo on a cold water descent which caused him to panic (he wasn't very experienced at the time). It turns out it was likely caused by having cold water on one side of his hood and warmer water (headed by his body) in the other ear. Simply flushing his hood with new water would have likely solved the problem.

 

[highdesert]

These links may be of interest ...

http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/?a=search&key=vertigo

http://www.scuba-doc.com/vert.htm

Vertigo and Scuba Diving - Alternobaric Vertigo Is a Common Cause of Dizziness and Vertigo Underwater

 

[kentrobin]

I agree with other posters to check with Dan, they are the experts on problems like this. Here are a few things I have noticed...When you ascend you are not looking at the reef anymore, your are often in the blue and have no point of reference -which can be disorienting, sort of like snow blindness - so try to find something to look at, don't look into the blue. Make sure you are exhaling completely, not doing so can contribute to a light headed feeling. I have found that shallow breathing can cause light headedness. Also, have your ears checked, vertigo can be caused by inner ear problems. I had a virus of the inner ear once that caused vertigo, otherwise I felt great - no other symptoms. One diver told me about a diver who found out she had a tiny marine animal inside her ear when she went to the doctor complaining of ear problems. See what Dan has to say first, but a visit to the ear doctor may be a good idea.

 

[kurtluker]

I had that same thing happen to me when I first started diving. It would happen while ascending up an anchor line or ascent line. I could not figure it out. One time my friend saw that I was struggling a little and he loosened my grip on the anchor line and like magic....it stopped. I am not saying that it is the same thing as is happening to you...but if you are holding onto the line.....just let it go.... holding onto a fixed line while there is motion in the ocean can really mess with your head. I have learned to just use the ascent line as a guide and not to hold onto it....rather to let it slide up an down my hand or just to ascend next to it as a guide. Or it could be something more complicated like the other folks were saying........Now I am over 200 dives and don't have that problem anymore.......

Hello All.... I have been diving for 2 years. I obtained my Open Water Advance and year to date I have @ 30 dives ranging from 15ft - 65ft. I dont get it...once and awhile I get dizzy/light headed while diving. It happened maybe 5 times. Usually it happens when Im asending up the anchor line. Out of no where I feel like Im spinning in a circle very quickly while Im going up the line. Its very uncomfortable and am trying to over come it and not get discouraged. I dont know if it was to do with my equalization or its something totaly different. Sometimes I think it has to do with my wetsuit hood trapping the air???

Today I was in only 15 feet and while I was coming up the line I felt it. The spins...What am I doing or not doing wrong??????

Any input will be appreciated.

Im breathing clean air...tanks have been viz inspect...and filled in different places and the same thing happens.