Help For Sea sickness??

[Whatgoesdown]

Some people get seasick no matter what! However, non-drug solutions are readily available for the rest of us. Try to eat a good meal before getting on the boat. Avoid very fatty foods or acidic drinks (orange juice is one of the worst) and anything that dehydrates you (coffee, not great). Aim for carbohydrates, things that give you slow burn energy. If you start feeling hungry on the boat, you will start to feel nauseous too. Drink plenty of water and make sure you are not going out with a hangover (bad anyway, from a DCI standpoint).

Position yourself away from the exhaust and make sure that you can see the horizon or stationary objects. Your brain needs to relate the movement that your ears are trying to communicate. Don't concentrate on small tasks for longer than about thirty seconds initially. Setting gear up seems to be the time when most people start to feel queasy so try to organise your bag and make sure that mask and fin straps are set to the right size before you get on the boat.

Take medications well before you get on the boat. They tend to "freeze" your equilibrium and if you are already sick they don't work. And, if you get that feeling rising you can try pushing a thumb into your wrist (acupressure), also breathe in deeply through your nose and out through your mouth.

Eventually, you will get used to the motion and it won't affect you any more, just keep diving!

 

[Tassie_Rohan]

Having grown up sailing I can tell you the one true cure for seasickness is to sit under a tree....

Otherwise I agree with Whatgoesdown: stay out of the boats cabin - the fumes inside dont help, and the main help is to keep your eyes on the horizon or a stationary object. Taking the helm often works - but probably not possible with a commercial operation. Taking some Dramamine at least 30 minute before getting on the boat has helped friends who are otherwise prone.

Cheers,
Rohan.

 

[Whatgoesdown]

How is the diving in Ulaan Bataar at the moment? Last time I giant strided there I sprained my ankle!:05:

 

[Tassie_Rohan]

How is the diving in Ulaan Bataar at the moment? Last time I giant strided there I sprained my ankle!:05:

Yep - not much diving around here and the seas a mere 2000 km away...

Theres some hope - theres a good diving operation across the border at Lake Baikal (Russia) and some of us are planning to dive Lake Hovsgol in Mongolia sometime next year. I guess I'm getting use to being an internet diver for my 6 week stints up here, followed by 2 week non-stop diving frenzies.

Cheers,
Rohan.

 

[Jeff Toorish]

Lots of good advice here so far.

Here are a few of things I have found that help:

-eat some saltines, and keep eating them. They help keep anything in your stomach from moving around.
-NO COFFEE, it just makes acid in your stomach.
-Stay away from Orange Juice (as has been mentioned) and milk, which produces stomach acid.
-As far as possible, try to get as much of your gear rigged as you can before leaving the dock. Rigging gear often involves looking down, which can cause motion sickness.
-Bonine and the non-drowsy form of Dramamine are the same thing.
-Don't drink alcohol the night before a dive...which is just good advice in any event.
-for me, standing seems to help, rather than sitting down, because I can seem to compensate for the boat's movement.

As has been mentioned before...really avoid any fried foods, foods that might produce heartburn or rich foods.

A final thought: I have been sick on boats, but I never remember that afterwards. What I remember is the dive.

Jeff

 

[Louie]

Best to seek a doctor who's versed in dive medicine.

I used to find liveaboards at heavy seas a bit of a problem so I sought out professional help. I got a prescription seasickness med that worked quite well.

Many common medications for seasickness can make you sleepy. This is not good. Also, some may have side effects that may interfere with diving.

On a non-medication note, there is that bit of psychology involved in seasickness.

If you're feeling borderline sick, don't hang round those who are sick - believe me, watching others heave can really set you off.

Avoid reading.

Distraction and keeping occupied is always good. This is probably why you never see the boat captain getting sick nor do you see a car driver getting carsick on winding roads.

Good luck.

 

[coreypenrose]

Patch + Ginger = happy diver.