Underwater illness?

[landlocked]

I have read on different threads about people experiencing seasickness and/or similar problems while underwater. My question is, (and I really hope I never have to experience this) how does one vomit under water without drowning? It is hard for me to imagine! Anyway, I figure better to have some prior planning than to be trying to figure it out in a hurry! (This is really a disgusting thread isn't it? Sorry, but I truly am curious.)

 

[MSilvia]

The obvious dilemma is that if you take the regulator out of your mouth, you'll reflexively gag on seawater. If you leave the regulator in... well, I wouldn't want to clean it, and you'll need an alternate air source.

I haven't tried it, but the following was once suggested to me:

Take the second stage out of your mouth, and hold it at about chest height, purging a stream of air directly up and into your mouth. That way, the vomit can drift away harmlessly, and you'll have some air to gag on instead of fluid.

It sounds good in theory...

 

[pipedope]

This is one area where a standard scuba second stage trumps a full face mask or diving helmet.

From experience, I found it better to take the mouthpiece out, vomit, replace mouthpiece, purge, breath, repeat.

When the first blast caught me by suprise it went out through the exhaust of the second stage just fine. I did remove the second stage from my mouth, rinse, purge, rinse, purge, replace in my mouth, purge, resume breathing, afterward.

After that dive the regulator got a good wash and was taken to the shop for service.

michael

 

[Drew Sailbum]

If you gotta uke: underwater, leave your reg in place.

Try not to think about it, but inhaling will be reflexive between, uh... expulsions, and breathing will be similar to breathing through a snorkle with some water in it. Try to inhale carefully, and when the ol' gas tank is empty, take out your reg and swirl it in the water a bit.

Getting your reg serviced after such abuse is a good idea.

 

[Scottri]

I've never had a problem with getting sick underwater but I have a good buddy that insists on eating a big breakfast before diving and I've seen him hurl through the reg on more than one occasion. I've heard from an instructor that it is better to leave the reg in place and puke through it rather than risk choking on sea water which would compound the problem.


Scott

 

[O-ring]

puke through the reg

 

[MSilvia]

I'd be concerned about free-flowing if a chunk got lodged in the diaphragm or something. Does that make any sense?

I suppose I could just chew more carefully....

 

[O-ring]

Although nasty, you raise a good point. I am just thinking about myself when I get, uhhhh sick, and vomiting seems so involuntary that I don't think I could control the inhale while I repositioned my reg.

 

[voidware]

Of course, you're supposed to leave the reg in place.

hey, why are all the fish hanging around steve?

 

[MSilvia]

I apologise for the nastiness, but it is a thread about vomit-related complications afterall. I think in practice I'd probably try the purge trick, but from right next to my mouth. Maybe I'll try a test breath that way next time I'm diving in clean freshwater.

I suppose the ability to do this would depend upon your voluntary restraint capacity... if you puke suddenly and unexpectedly, it wouldn't help much to have a plan. I find I usually know shortly ahead of time when I'm going to throw up though, and can maintain my composure... at least on land.