what happened ???

[MXGratefulDiver]

Had an interesting experience during a night dive last evening ... and would like to get some opinions about what some others think might have caused it.

We were doing a relatively deep dive ... max 106 fsw, average 64. I was wearing my doubles kit ... my 10th dive in doubles, and only the second since September. I'm still learning how to use them, and as a result have to work harder to maintain proper trim. Last night's SAC was about 30% higher than I typically have for this dive profile when using singles.

About 45 minutes into the dive, having come up to a depth of about 30 fsw, I was watching a seal zipping through the remains of an old boat when suddenly the world started spinning ... vertigo! I couldn't tell up from down. My pulse started racing, and my breathing pattern shot thru the roof ... I really had to concentrate just to hold my position and try to slow my breathing down. After a few seconds I was able to focus enough to get one of my buddies' attention (we were diving as a team of 3) and signal that I had a problem and wanted to surface. I made my way to a nearby piling that I knew stuck up almost to the surface ... and by the time I got there my buddies were on either side of me. As soon as I focused on the piling I started feeling more normal. I signaled I was OK, but wanted to ascend. We ascended slowly, did our normal safety stop and surfaced.

After the dive I noticed two things ... I had a CO2 headache, and my ears were crackling.

Could I have suffered CO2 overload from having to work harder than normal for 45 minutes? Or was it perhaps something to do with the ears?

With a bit over 1,100 dives under my weight belt, this is the first time anything like this has happened to me ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[BILLB]

Thanks for sharing your experience. I am not a medical person in any way or form. But, as an instructor, I think you nailed it! Increase air consumption under stress and not fully exhaling will alow a CO2 build up. Vertigo (dizzyness) could result.

When I started usng doubles last year, I took the time to work on different heights and wing positions in confined water. It was a bit embarrassing to drag doubles into a pool but but it was worth it. I also practice ditch and dons as well as valve control. Take time and do this. It will make your next dive experience a no brainer.

 

[Uncle Pug]

Bob... I was going to call you this morning to see how you were doing... since you've posted... I'll just do it here:

How are you doing?

 

[Diver0001]

....snip....

After the dive I noticed two things ... I had a CO2 headache, and my ears were crackling.

Could I have suffered CO2 overload from having to work harder than normal for 45 minutes? Or was it perhaps something to do with the ears?

With a bit over 1,100 dives under my weight belt, this is the first time anything like this has happened to me ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

Bob, I doubt that this has anything to do with experience and/or skills. It sounds physiological to me.

My first impression from the crackling ears is that a pressure imbalance in your ears may have caused the dizziness. It also makes me wonder if the headache was really CO2 related. What lead you to draw this conclusion?

R..

 

[ScubaFreak]

Hi Bob,

Hope your doing good. I agree with BillB & Diver0001,. Appears to me that it's more of a physiological thing. Were you under any other stress before the dive? tired maybe? It is interesting that watching the seal move around rapidly made you kinda dizzy. Might have just been the push that set off your vertigo attack.
Hope your feeling better.

SF

 

[Hank49]

I've been dizzy diving but it was due to not equalizing properly. It happens to me if I have a sinus infection and can't equalize after blowing my nose too hard. Once you felt that, you may have started breathing hard from anxiety and that made it worse also causing the headache later. ??

 

[Uncle Pug]

I don't think the seals had anything to do with it. They were with us the whole dive... even at 100'. All our dives there are seal dives.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

I'm fine now ... actually, once I got to the piling my dizziness disappeared. I decided to go up anyway. I didn't notice the headache or ear crackling till after the dive. There were no problems clearing, nor any ear pain (or even pressure).

I think my next few doubles dives will be less aggressive.

Thanks for your comments ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[jbd]

...the world started spinning ... vertigo! I couldn't tell up from down. My pulse started racing, and my breathing pattern shot thru the roof ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

Were there any other symptoms that you can remember?

 

[babar]

I had the same experience once. I had a slight cold and was coming over the side of a wreck. The whole world started spinning, and became flat. I think that I had vertigo from a pressure imbalance between my ears. It only lasted a minute, but boy it felt crazy.

Babar