I was wondering if anyone else has this problem. I love to dive and have been diving for about 3 years. I live in Arizona and dive a lot of lakes. A couple of years ago went to Maui to dive, dove Molokini and Coral Reefs it was wonderful, visibility 150 ft, never get that in AZ. My problem is I get sick to my stomach no matter what I do. I've tried diving on a full stomach and an empty stomach. Its not on the surface, we have a boat so most of my dives are boat dives, I am calm not nervous, we descend and everything is fine, look around for awhile, can't really pinpoint what happens. I have been told just do it, if you have to throw up just hold your regulator in and do it. So far I have not been able to do that, I just get to the surface and here it comes. The good thing is after I get sick, I am fine for the rest of the day. Just wish I could avoid the sickness in the first dive.
Love to dive but, stomach doesn't
- Thread starter LaLani
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Sideband
Guest
Welcome to the board.
That doesn't sound fun at all. Hopefully there will be some advice headed your way.
Joe
That doesn't sound fun at all. Hopefully there will be some advice headed your way.
Joe
koi
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I know exactly how you feel.
I didn't have problems diving in Monterey for my OW certification but it Maui, it was a different story. I did two shore dives on Maui. My first went fine, my second was a different story. I was fine at the surface pre-dive, but after we headed back on the second dive, things went awry.
We were swimming back in fairly shallow water a few feet below the surface, with slight surge, and then I got really nauseous. I tried to hold back for a while, but couldn't take it anymore and surfaced. Had to do a surface swim back to the shore still feeling quite sick. I was out for most of the afternoon but felt fine in the evening after some rest. I was told by my guide that next time I felt sick, that I could just puke in my reg. I told her I didn't know that. Unfortuantely, I had a chance to test that out the next dive.
We headed out to do boat dives at Molokini and Red Hill the next day. Again, pre-dive I was fine, but as soon as I surfaced after the dive, the nausea hit. Vomiting with your mouth slightly closed through the reg feels a little weird, and is no picnic, but you can do it.
The crew sympathized with me, and told me that almost every diver tosses their cookies. One diver told me that he used to get sick so quickly on boat dives that they would throw him and his gear in the water as soon as they stopped the boat. He said meds help a little and things got better with time.
I tried taking a good dose of ginger before the boat dive, but that didn't help. One of the DMs on the boat had some acupressure bands, but that didn't work either. I'm thinking I'm going to have to try those transdermal patches before my next dives. I don't exactly know wha tthe story is with me but since it never happened in Montery, maybe it's the warm water? =P
I didn't have problems diving in Monterey for my OW certification but it Maui, it was a different story. I did two shore dives on Maui. My first went fine, my second was a different story. I was fine at the surface pre-dive, but after we headed back on the second dive, things went awry.
We were swimming back in fairly shallow water a few feet below the surface, with slight surge, and then I got really nauseous. I tried to hold back for a while, but couldn't take it anymore and surfaced. Had to do a surface swim back to the shore still feeling quite sick. I was out for most of the afternoon but felt fine in the evening after some rest. I was told by my guide that next time I felt sick, that I could just puke in my reg. I told her I didn't know that. Unfortuantely, I had a chance to test that out the next dive.
We headed out to do boat dives at Molokini and Red Hill the next day. Again, pre-dive I was fine, but as soon as I surfaced after the dive, the nausea hit. Vomiting with your mouth slightly closed through the reg feels a little weird, and is no picnic, but you can do it.
The crew sympathized with me, and told me that almost every diver tosses their cookies. One diver told me that he used to get sick so quickly on boat dives that they would throw him and his gear in the water as soon as they stopped the boat. He said meds help a little and things got better with time.
I tried taking a good dose of ginger before the boat dive, but that didn't help. One of the DMs on the boat had some acupressure bands, but that didn't work either. I'm thinking I'm going to have to try those transdermal patches before my next dives. I don't exactly know wha tthe story is with me but since it never happened in Montery, maybe it's the warm water? =P
Sideband
Guest
koi:
There are so many things I don't mean to do with this question, but.
For those of us that are lucky enough to have never had the need in the past but may at some future time, are there any helpful hints you could give on this procedure? I'm sorry, but does the previous meal have any bearing on the act? I guess small bites and chewing well would be highly recommended eh?
<sigh>
You knew somebody was going to ask, and I was feeling particularly somebodyish just now.
Joe
koi
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Sideband:
No problem at all. All part of being a well informed diver.
There's not much too it. Just hold your reg in your mouth and have at it. The vomitus will flow out through the regs exhaust ports. I also pressed the purge button after each bout to help assure a "clear" passage.
Your recommendation of chewing well if you have a meal beforehand is well heeded. I'm guessing larger chunks of material might have trouble clearing the limited size of the exhaust, and may become lodged in the reg.
Sideband
Guest
koi:
Thanks. That was a lot less disgusting than I had thought it might get. The night is still young though and anything can happen.
Joe
As far as spewing goes just realize that maybe, just maybe you'll plug up the exhaust ports, if so just switch to your alternate air source. Hard to always remember simple things when you're spewing but..........
You must be having some sort of motion sickness but I'd check with your doctor.
You must be having some sort of motion sickness but I'd check with your doctor.
Thanks for you replies. I have tried ginger and dramamine everything that other divers have recommended and I'm afraid it may just be me... haha Depending on the season we can dive in cold water or warm and I still do it in any temperature. The strangest thing about it is only the first dive. I guess I can be thankful for that.
Koi, thanks I'm glad someone else understands, let me know how the transdermal patch works.
Its embarrassing and I don't like it, but I wont stop diving because of it.
Koi, thanks I'm glad someone else understands, let me know how the transdermal patch works.
Its embarrassing and I don't like it, but I wont stop diving because of it.
RICHinNC
Contributor
LaLani....Like you I am a prime chummer. What gets to me is the smell of the exhaust from the boat. Usually rough seas dont get to me....but one good whiff of that exhaust...and Im down for the count.
And, I have found that some mask defoggers coupled with excessive sinus drainage can cause a stomach to revolt. I used to use the baby soap/water mixture for a mask defogger....it was the best and cheapest (next to spit) that worked. But the soap residue getting snarfed down my nose would just wild up my tummy.
And I wont ever get into what my stomach does from people who cant go with out a cigarette for a while.
Let me know if the patch works for ya.
rich
And, I have found that some mask defoggers coupled with excessive sinus drainage can cause a stomach to revolt. I used to use the baby soap/water mixture for a mask defogger....it was the best and cheapest (next to spit) that worked. But the soap residue getting snarfed down my nose would just wild up my tummy.
And I wont ever get into what my stomach does from people who cant go with out a cigarette for a while.
Let me know if the patch works for ya.
rich
Out of curiosity, do you have acid reflux? I had the same problem when I started diving, and it ended up being acid reflux. I take a zantac first thing in the morning, and no problems
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