The five stages of sea sickness

[BabyDuck]

i've never been seasick or airsick or moviesick or rollercoastersick, though rarely i can get carsick. i read all the time on boats, planes, and cars, though not so much in movies or on roller coasters. the worst i've ever felt on a boat was going fast in small chop - i thought my kidneys were going to be crushed while they were still attached to me. had a backache for days. i admire all of you who are so consistently sick and continuing to try again.

 

[RP Diver]

The closest I've ever been to being seasick is reading this thread. :11ztongue

I have never suffered from motion sickness of any kind. I've been on 5 liveabord dive trips, a sailing charter in the BVI, and my first dive trip to Roatan was the closest I can recall. They had the worst winter storm in memory when I was there during Christmas of '89, with the temp dropping below 60 for 2 nights running. For 2 days they couldn't dive on the north side of the island at all, and on the 3rd day when we did dive directly from AKR, the swells were still pretty exciting in a 40' dive boat. I was one of only a handful who didn't get sick, and the sicklist included several who anticipated the problem and took precautions. My buddy got sick right beside me in the surge when we were getting back on board. The fish loved it... he skipped the next dive. I decided that if that didn't get me, I was pretty safe, and it turns out I was right.... So far at least.

 

[lissette]

I have found there is two types of motion sickness (both follow your stages above....).
There is the seasickness you get on board, and you start getting all hot and sweaty and ill with the motion of the waves, then you finally get into the water just so you dont ruin your buddys second dive for the day...and you find the cold water makes you feel better almost instantly and the sick feeling goes away and you end up having an awesome dive....

Then there is the type of seasickness you get UNDERWATER! That is the worst....and you find yourself holding onto a rock somewhere and commitiing the fatal flaw of watching the sea weed go back and forth..........back and forth! There is no cure but for a few hours on land.

I always take my seasickness medication before a dive now, no matter how the sea looks so the dive isnt ruined for me or my buddy, but i have gotten sick when i have taken a half dose or something to try and avoid the dryness that sometimes comes with the medication.

 

[suthnbelle]

Then there is the type of seasickness you get UNDERWATER! That is the worst....and you find yourself holding onto a rock somewhere and commitiing the fatal flaw of watching the sea weed go back and forth..........back and forth! There is no cure but for a few hours on land.

LOL ! This is the type I got in the Keys. I was on a shallow reef watching this beautiful school of fish sway back and forth, back and forth. I was already feeling a little queasy so that just sealed the deal. I ended up christening my new reg at 30'.

 

[suthnbelle]

i've never been seasick or airsick or moviesick or rollercoastersick, though rarely i can get carsick................ i admire all of you who are so consistently sick and continuing to try again.

Oh hush Marci !! You just wait for the wreck trip. I'm going to be watching you for all signs of turning green. In case you don't puke, make sure you stay near me. I might need someone to hold my hair back as I'm leaning over the deck.

Your favorite NC dive buddy,
Mel

 

[Firebrand]

I've only reached stage 1 when I was little. I was in the cabin of a sail boat, and I ended up going to sleep. Other than that, I've never been sea sick. However, whenever my family goes to Key West for lobster season, after a day on the water, my Mom swears up and down that the motel continues to rock back and forth!

 

[justleesa]

I have lived thru all stages..

 

[Tanked Monkey]

Got seasick last weekend for the first time in my life. It surprised me, as I have never gotten seasick in the past. It was in the Keys, 4 foot swells. Felt nauseous while gearing up before the first dive, which was a pretty shallow reef (15-25 feet). The boat was getting thrown all around. I was fine deeper than 15 feet, but shallower, the surge was tossing me up and down. Almosted lost it underwater. When I went deeper, the bad feeling went away.
Eventually, after getting back on the boat, I caused a fish feeding frenzy. Once that was over, I was fine. Didn't have any other problems for the rest of the 3 day dive trip. I can usually read in the car, boat, etc with no problems. From now on I'm going to be more careful when on a 6-pack. Not worth the experience. It was miserable.

 

[kidspot]

I have found there is two types of motion sickness (both follow your stages above....).
There is the seasickness you get on board, and you start getting all hot and sweaty and ill with the motion of the waves, then you finally get into the water just so you dont ruin your buddys second dive for the day...and you find the cold water makes you feel better almost instantly and the sick feeling goes away and you end up having an awesome dive....

Then there is the type of seasickness you get UNDERWATER! That is the worst....and you find yourself holding onto a rock somewhere and commitiing the fatal flaw of watching the sea weed go back and forth..........back and forth! There is no cure but for a few hours on land.

I usually get the first kind, though one time while looking for a fin in the shorewash
the vis was less than 1ft and all I could see was the sand stirring in front of my face back and forth, back and forth. With only 1 fin on I was getting tossed around a bit too, finally had to get out of the water... took nearly 1/2 the day for my stomach to stop "swirling" with the sand on the bottom.

The good news is that almost a week later I found my lost fin

Aloha, Tim

 

[BabyDuck]

In case you don't puke, make sure you stay near me. I might need someone to hold my hair back as I'm leaning over the deck.Mel

you got it, babe! i have lots of practice being the designated hair holder.