The five stages of sea sickness

[Diver0001]

For anyone interested in boat diving we have to deal with being sea sick. I've found that there are 5 stages of sea sickness:

1) denial. That's when you probably don't look fresh but you don't feel really crappy yet. People will ask you how your feeling and you'll say "100% mate"

2) nausea. That's when the little dizzy feeling starts and you don't really feel that great but you can still function. It comes with reduced appetite and some discomfort.

3) sick. That's when the nausea catches up to you and you really need to fight not to puke. Your functioning is reduced but with some effort you can still set up your own gear. The sick feeling goes away under water

4) I think I will die. This stage is reached when the puking starts. Anything you eat comes back out after 10 minutes and you have your own spot along the rail. Your functioning is reduced to the point that your buddy needs to help you get your gear together. Once in the water the feeling subsides after 10 min or so.

5) I want to die. This stage is reached when you can't move. The mere thought of eating makes you puke. You can't dive and even if you did the sick feeling wouldn't go away and you'd still be puking through your reg. Your only goal in life is to get off the boat and never come back.

So. How sea sick have you been? What have you found that works and doesn't work to combat it?

R..

 

[alcina]

I have been sea sick exactly once in my life...it was about a 6 on your list. We were doing a long crossing in huge seas, wind & squals - there were several of us and we were lashed to the rails, too weak to hold on properly. I wanted the helicopter to meet us and take me home (actually I really wanted the helicopter to come get me off the stupid boat, but that wasn't going to happen). It was the worst feeling ever - even worse than my appendix.

The only thing that helped was finally arriving to find perfectly calm water around the islands.

For those who get seasick, I feel for ya...wouldn't wish it on anyone.

 

[mania]

I was seriously sea sick (point 5) only once when taking a ferrybaot from Poland to Sweden. Though I'd die and wished to.
Later on I only sometimes (rarely) feel the nausea. Coca cola and focusing on the horizon work for me.
Mania

 

[Snowbear]

I've made it to stage 3, though it's usually 'cause I did something dumb (for me) like trying to read or looking down at the water on a rocking boat :sick:

One thing I've found helps the most is when I'm in stage 1, just stay out in the fresh air and enjoy the scenery. Also helps to stay away from the diesel exhaust fumes

 

[saying]

Without an abundance of Dramamine I'm done for. Number 5 without a doubt every time.

With an abundance of Dramamine (starting the night before), focusing on the horizon, staying in the fresh air, and lots of water or soda and I'm fine. Maybe a little nauseus at the end of each ascent.

My seasickness gets so bad, though, last year I came back from a liveaboard (on which my sealegs + dramamine had gotten so effective that on the last night, plowing through 10 - 15 seas the crew was getting green... but I was fine. Drinking Rum and watching the furiousness of the ocean) when I got back on steady, dry land I was sick all over again. Had to call out of work two days later because I could still barely move.

Maybe I'd just become a Dramamine junkie.

 

[Mike Veitch]

Oi you forgot one. What about those of us (lucky that we are) who have never been seasick? Hangovers don't count.

I worked full time on boats for over 5 years, had some hellish crossings (including a 12 dayer from Fiji to Tahiti head on into 15-20 ft/6metre seas) and have never been sick.

Suppose you all hate me but...
Always entertained by the pukers, had to strap a few on a few times.
What does make me sick? Having to clean up someone elses puke!

 

[suthnbelle]

I am one of the unfortunate few who get VERY seasick, which really sucks when you love to dive but hate riding boats. Back in November on the SB Key Largo trip I got horribly seasick after my first dive, or should I say during first dive. I just wanted to die, and get the heck off that boat. I had even started taking the Bonine 24 hours before the trip. Took me all day to get over the seasickness, but the next day on the boat I was fine. Nothing. No seasickness.

In two weeks I'm doing a NC wreck trip so everyone say a little diving prayer. I am soooo not looking forward to that loooong boat ride. Already resigned myself to the fact that I'll be puking. Just want to be able to get my gear on and enjoy the dives.

 

[gehadoski]

I got seasickness many times. in most of them I can deal only once I got very sick. It was in the Red Sea. The sea where very rough and the boat didn't has a good ventilation.

 

[molksmith]

I generally don't get seasick but I was in Thailand last year and to get to Koh Toh
we took this shuttle and the sea was extremely unforgiving. They actually handed out bags to everyone. It took everything I had to stave it off.Especially hearing people puke..
If you really have problems this probably won't help but I just focus on the horizon and nothing else and it helps hold off nausea and what not. As long as you look at a point in the distance it will usually make it better.

Hope that helps...

 

[DiveMaven]

I get sea sick, air sick, car sick....you get the idea. Sooo, when I fly or dive, I wear "the patch". The only side effect I get is a little dry mouth, but other than that I'm 100% good to go. For those that get sea sick, I'd recommend they talk to their doctor and explore using the patch since it's good for 3 days. If you do, remember to get some waterproof tape to stick over it. I've seen too many divers go in with a patch and come out without it, and I hate the idea of a fish dying from eating one.