Newbie Diver - stomach issues

[mariov]

Hey guys

I am a newbie diver with only 6 dives under my name .. I have completed the Padi Open Water Certification and as i live in Australia is compulsary to have a medical done prior starting the course . I pass the medical with no problems at all and i completed all the pool dives (3 mtrs deep) with no issues at all.

The problems started on my first ocean dive . I woke up that morning with a very tight stomach and i couldnt eat anything or drink anything. I pressured myself to a croissant which didnt want to go down at all.(Yammm)

Arrived at the beach for the dives and my stomach didnt want to leave me alone. I tried to ignore it but the moment i got in the water with all my equipment on it started getting worse. Once again i ignored the feeling. Once under water everything was ok (not great but ok). After a 30 min dive of max 7m i ascend and once my bcd was inflated i started vomiting. Now that was my 1st dive. Since then it has happend to all my dives , the same feeling in the morning prior diving and then felling ok under water but once on the surface cant stop vomiting.

Yesterday i flew all the way to the Great Barrier Reef to complete a 2 Reef dives (cost me 300 bucks) and unfortunately i only completed only one as my stomach was once again giving me issues. Eveybody on the boat got seasick as the weather was bad but i was the only one that didnt complete all the dives . My poor g/f had to dive with no buddy .

I know that it cant be diving that is causing the problem because i wake up on the morning prior diving with the tight stomach. Girffriend thinks that i am too anxious and worried that its causing me to stress and destroy the dive experience.

The question i have is anybody else experience the same issues as i do or heard of it and if they have have how did you solved the problem? I really enjoy diving and i want to take it further but unfortunately i am getting turned off by the idea of vomiting on every dive.

No alcohol is consumed prior the dives and i rarely drink.

Please help as i want to continue diving for ever.

Sorry for the long post !!!!

Regards,

Mario

 

[crpntr133]

The first thing that went through my mind even before getting to what your GF thinks was that it is self inflicted. Don't have any cures for you but I am sure someone will be along to give some advice. Right, wrong, or indifferent those are my two bubbles worth.

 

[Diver0001]

mariov,

have you had this feeling before or is this the first time?

R..

 

[mariov]

Thanks for the reply guys. I havent experience the same feeling as bad as prior diving. Every now and then i get an upset stomach so i might go to a specialist and have a look.

Regards,

Mario

 

[Diver0001]

Thanks for the reply guys. I havent experience the same feeling as bad as prior diving. Every now and then i get an upset stomach so i might go to a specialist and have a look.

Regards,

Mario

I think that's a good idea. It could be anxiety related but it could be 1000 other things too..... better not to speculate about it.

R..

 

[Bluefish]

Provided you rule out a serious medical problem, try practicing in a pool some more. Put your gear together, take it apart, sit on the bottom, practice your skills, float around. Just get comfortable with everything. Try some visualization exercises as well. Picture yourself setting up your gear--every detail, getting in the water, the sound and feel of breathing through your reg. Good luck, and relax mon!

 

[pasley]

My daughter had the same type of problem. Here was just nerves. She got sick to her stomach the minute she went underwater. She did not complete her OW as a result.

I would have a doctor check it out to rule out other causes, but your GF is likely right on the money.

 

[seacam diver]

It sound like fear to me. When I was instructing I mandated a book by Carlos Eyles called DIVING FREE. The book is all about being in your comfort zone and being relaxed. I highly recommend reading it. I'm not sure if it is still in print but it is a big help in overcoming the apprehention that new divers sometimes feel.

Remember you are in an alien environment doing something you have not done before so you will naturally feel nervous doing it.

 

[pipedope]

Getting more comfortable in your gear and procedures can help but it sounds to me (correct me if I missunderstand) that you have only had the problem going into the ocean, not into the pool.

I suggest some visulaization excersizes.
This can best be done with the help of a hypnotherapist or self hypmosis, but works even if you just follow through the steps.

Relax and get comfortable.
Picture yourself comfortably and confidently getting up and eating breakfast. Smell the coffee, the food, taste it, feel it slide down your throat.
Remaining comfortable and confidently relaxed, picture yourself going to the dive site and suiting up. Fill in as much detail as you can in each sense, sight, smell, feel, taste and hearing.
You enter the water and find your self as comfortable and confident as you were in the pool. After you easily complete all of the skills required you have some time to look around and marvel at the wonder of the underwater world. Picture yourself finishing the dive and sharing the joy of it all with your buddies and instructor.

Repeat this excersize once or twice a day and see how much better you feel.

While you do this, also it may help to do more pool work to reinforce that you do have the skills to handle your gear and do the dive tasks.

Ask your instructor for any tips they may have. You can bet they have helped people through this before, and will again.

 

[mariov]

Thanks guys . I am pretty sure that its not fear as i am not scared under water at all. And once i am under the water i feel better. I think i get to excited and anxious liek all of you said.

Any suggestions of what i shall eat before diving or even the night before so i can try to mininize any problems ..

I will try to go diving again next weekend so i will keep you all updated.

Thanks guys once again

Mario