Reverse Squeeze: Couldn't Help my Son/buddy

[dumpsterDiver]

This summer we had a somewhat unusual incident with my teenage son being unable to ascend from a depth of around 20 ft to the surface. He didn't seem to have problems from 80 feet to 20, but then got stuck there.

I have suffered from several (many actually) incidents when a reverse block or squeeze prevented my ascent and/or caused moderate to severe vertigo. I have never blown out an ear drum, and typically have to re-descend, remove the mask and blow my nose and keep trying to come up.

My son has "heard the war stories" so he seemed to handle it pretty well, but it took a long time before he could come up. There was not much I could do other than to stay with him and be prepared to share air or even go to the surface and bring more down if that was required. I was beginning to get worried after a few minutes - I think it took about 7-8 minutes to finally get his ears cleared.

I happened to leave the camera running for the ascent. He made me a little nervous when he seemed to be trying to flood and rinse his sinuses with sea water - looked like he was sorta choking or something.

Just one more reason to start your ascent with a good buffer of extra air. He was done diving for the day, but had no complications from it. Thought it might be interesting for some people to see what a reverse squeeze might look like.

You have to forward the video to 7 minutes to see the portion of the ascent, sorry I'm not making a shorter clip.

 

[fmerkel]

Reverse squeeze may be caused by poor technique on descent. The trauma makes the tissues swell and become more reactive.

For the sinuses there is little you can do except know if you are prone to the problem, mitigate with appropriate medications, and descent VERY VERY slowly paying close attention to even the slightest pressure. I usually have to stop at 12-15' for several minutes before continuing a slow descent.

 

[dumpsterDiver]

Generally we can both descend at 100 feet per minute (or more), but I agree that failure to equalize properly on descent can cause inflammation and initiate or exacerbate a problem.

He often can equalize hands free on a scuba descent -- wish I could do that.

 

[CuzzA]

It looked like there was quite a bit of rope and chain. Any reason to consider attaching the bag to the end of the rope and overfill the bag in hopes it would reach the surface if it was short, yet if it weren't then the anchor wouldn't drift, potentially losing the anchor and your bag?

 

[uncfnp]

Hey Dumpster. Sorry to see your son struggling to equalize but mighty impressed by his skills. Watching him hang effortlessly while trying different things. I know you are so proud.

 

[tbzep]

It helps me to pull my head to one side, equalize one ear, then pull it to the other and equalize the other ear when I'm having a little trouble, mostly on descent but I've done it on ascent a couple times when it started getting a little tight.

 

[dumpsterDiver]

It looked like there was quite a bit of rope and chain. Any reason to consider attaching the bag to the end of the rope and overfill the bag in hopes it would reach the surface if it was short, yet if it weren't then the anchor wouldn't drift, potentially losing the anchor and your bag?

Generally the rope just reaches the surface, because that is where the guy cut it off when lost. If you tie to the end of the rope, then you can have all kinds of trouble with it tangling in the bottom and the float not reaching the surface and even if it does reach the surface, the current could drag it under if the anchor catches on something - then you lose the lift bag too - probably. If you bundle it all up, you can send the whole mess up and there should be no tangles.

The bag is a large DAN safety sausage - I have recovered quite a few anchors with it.

Hey Dumpster. Sorry to see your son struggling to equalize but mighty impressed by his skills. Watching him hang effortlessly while trying different things. I know you are so proud.

I was happy he did not become impatient and push through the pain and surface. He's heard the lectures about how many divers can't dive anymore due to abusing their ears, so I hope he doesn't push to dive when he feels congested. As for buoyancy control, that hasn't been an issue for a long time. But thanks.

 

[fmerkel]

Generally we can both descend at 100 feet per minute (or more), but I agree that failure to equalize properly on descent can cause inflammation and initiate or exacerbate a problem.
He often can equalize hands free on a scuba descent -- wish I could do that.

"Capt'n she can't take it anymore, something is going to blow!"
!!!!! I can do 100' in about 5-10 minutes!!!!! But then I'm kind of a sinus cripple.

 

[Diver0001]

I have suffered from several (many actually) incidents when a reverse block or squeeze prevented my ascent and/or caused moderate to severe vertigo.

Why have you had many such incidents in the past? I had one and that was enough to cure me of diving with anything remotely resembling a cold.

Avoid, don't cure, and you won't be video taping so many "incidents".

R..

 

[joe10540]

This is something I have suffered with in the past and it only happens at around 20' never deeper and rarely shallower. I get it due to seasonal allergies and neglecting my medication so what works for me may be totally different for him or you. Usually if I descend about 5 feet and just hang for about 3-5 minutes I'll feel things open up and I can clear and surface. Again this is only personal experience and based on what my ENT recommended for ME. But it works like a charm every time.

P.S. I always allow enough air/nitrox at the end of my dive for a 5-10 minute stop at 20'