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Diving Safety, Accidents and Incidents Post here to discuss accidents, incidents, ideas, gear, or anything else to improve spearfishing safety. Memorials and condolences threads should be placed in that separate forum.

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Old 02-20-2013, 10:15 PM   #16
Marcus
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Re: Sea sickness?

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Originally Posted by AndrewK View Post
Ive found the best way to deal with seasickness is keeping an eye on the horizon, staying out from belowdecks while underway, not laying down... and hydration. This coming from someone who commercial fished in up to 20 foot seas for 2 years of my life, and I still spend alot of time on the water on dive and fishing boats and yachts.
This...and gingersnap cookies.

Research and understand the reason...knowledge trumps any causation, you will then never be seasick again...kind of. I've experienced it twice in my life of MANY days at sea. It was a combination of being anchored at stern in rolling waves, smelling engine fumes, dehydrated, and trying to concentrate on a map or tying a hook.
Even then I recognized and stood up, looked at the horizon, and puked one time which made me feel better...felt normal in a half hour after doing all the things to fight it.
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Old 02-20-2013, 11:08 PM   #17
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Re: Sea sickness?

Lets say it was the perfect storm. The bride and I had a few too many drinks the night before. Did not eat any breakfast. And when we anchored up the current put us side ways to the waves. Not big waves just four to six feet. This was my first trip free diving and I was super excited. I get excited i get a queezy stomach. It usually passes after a good gag or two. It was a center drive open bow/stern boat. It hit when I geared up looking down. I did every thing wrong that you can. That being said I had a great time shot some fish and have now bought full set of gear. I have been training 35-40min constant swims in a local salt water pool building up my legs and ankles for this next trip. I have been doing some breath hold tables out of water (no dive buddy yet to do apnic water) and am looking forward to a level 1 free dive course this summer. I will be better prepared for this next hunt! One other question for you salts, when I do my long swims with mask and snorkel I get cotton mouth/ throat what helps with this?
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Old 04-06-2013, 11:22 AM   #18
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Re: Sea sickness?

While deep freediving a few years ago, I injured my right ear. Apparently, I severely damaged my round window and suffered some permanent hearing loss.

After the injury, I noticed I was much more succeptable to motion sickness (esp the first few years). As somebody mentioned, it's really humiliating and frustrating.

So, I read everything I could find. I tried everything available.

My experience has been the following:

Meclazine works the best if one starts taking small doses like 5 days before.

If it's really rough, I also apply the patch. The patch worked much better for me than the Scopace (pill verson).

The wrist bands did nothing for me. I even bought the electric shock watch. It didn't help either.

Candied ginger is good, but only before getting sick)).


One aspect not mentioned in this thread, is:
What can one do if they become violently sick? Is there anything for that?

The answer is yes!

Valium will straighted one's head out. However, no diving after taking that.

Sincerely,
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Old 04-08-2013, 11:08 AM   #19
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Re: Sea sickness?

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Originally Posted by kiddro2003 View Post
Lets say it was the perfect storm. The bride and I had a few too many drinks the night before. Did not eat any breakfast. And when we anchored up the current put us side ways to the waves. Not big waves just four to six feet. This was my first trip free diving and I was super excited. I get excited i get a queezy stomach. It usually passes after a good gag or two. It was a center drive open bow/stern boat. It hit when I geared up looking down. I did every thing wrong that you can. That being said I had a great time shot some fish and have now bought full set of gear. I have been training 35-40min constant swims in a local salt water pool building up my legs and ankles for this next trip. I have been doing some breath hold tables out of water (no dive buddy yet to do apnic water) and am looking forward to a level 1 free dive course this summer. I will be better prepared for this next hunt! One other question for you salts, when I do my long swims with mask and snorkel I get cotton mouth/ throat what helps with this?
First off, you will need to avoid getting sick again or it may get in your head and make getting sea legs a bit more difficult. i will run through a few things that have and have not been mentioned. The cotton mouth is from the salt and breathing through your mouth/snorkel. We persperate through our mouths similar to dogs and release water vapor with every breath. Combined with the overall effects that salt water has on our skin cells you will dehydrate faster in salt water than fresh.

Dehydration and seasickness: They are related, as is hypothermia. As stated earlier, drink lots of water prior to the day of a dive. Avoid gatorade or any other sugar based sports drink. The artificial sweetener in G2 makes me sick as well for some reason so consider that.

Sugar and fat: The dry bagel prior to a dive is a popular breakfast. Im not sure why these foods contribute to nausea but they do. Avoid spicy food as well.

Caffine and alcohol: Both will make you sick, red bull puts me over the edge every time.

Nausea is the result of the senses not sending the same signal to the brain. Eyes, ears, and nose. If the mind gets different signals from any of the above it sends a signal to induce vommiting. The mind is convinced that something has been consumed that is causing a hallucination and will do what ever it can to empty the stomach. Beleive it or not, our feet send signals as well. This is why some will feel better when laying down.

My experience: THE PATCH is a trip saver. I first used it on a cruise ship in the gulf during a tropical storm. The entire ship was sick, and I was in the casino with a piece of chocolate cake in one hand and a rum and coke in the other. The bar tender was amazed that I was still standing, as most of the crew and guests were green.

I have since learned a few tricks as well. The mask will also make me cross-eyed after a few hours. When breathing up on the surface, I will remove the mask and close my eyes. The water on my face helps to relax the mind and closed eyes means no mixed signals. Being the 1st in the water once the hook goes overboard is also a great little trick. A good flush of the suit if I heat up helps, and taking short breaks can extend my day. 30 minutes in the water, 10 minutes on the boat. Avoid diesel fumes or 2stoke exhaust.

Hope this helps, my mom said she got terribly seasick while pregnant and it the only thing I can really attribute to the level of seasickness I have experienced in the past. Hope this helps, as I have been on both ends of the spectrum.
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Old 04-08-2013, 07:41 PM   #20
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Re: Sea sickness?

Good advice so far. From an old salt..try Altoids--"the curiously strong mints". They will help settle a stomach fast. Keep your head up, get a little damp, look at the horizon and never ever lay down.
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Old 04-09-2013, 04:34 AM   #21
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Re: Sea sickness?

I also got seasick quiet fast. But actually its more motion sickness i feel vertigo on the surface. I ordered already some ginger hope that helps.
What i feel makes me sick is looking on the GPS because we have a lot reef here around and sometimes you have to look on it.

I got already meclazine but i dont want feel dizzy when im diving. Donīt know if Scopace is better, i asked in the pharmacy here in egypt but they dont have it. Maybe in one in a sideroad ;-)
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Old 04-09-2013, 11:22 AM   #22
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Re: Sea sickness?

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Originally Posted by Luchini View Post
I also got seasick quiet fast. But actually its more motion sickness i feel vertigo on the surface. I ordered already some ginger hope that helps.
What i feel makes me sick is looking on the GPS because we have a lot reef here around and sometimes you have to look on it.

I got already meclazine but i dont want feel dizzy when im diving. Donīt know if Scopace is better, i asked in the pharmacy here in egypt but they dont have it. Maybe in one in a sideroad ;-)
I've been taking Bonine. It works well for me, haven't noticed any dizziness. Haven't tried to scopalamine patches/pills, but I do want to give them a try. That drowsiness kinda sucks after a dive. Diving itself is enough to make me tired. Looking at the gps, or doing anything else on the boat (messing around with a camera or tying fishing line etc) makes me sea sick too, so I've been shopping around for a good prevention. Plenty of great ideas here. Hope it works out for you!
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Old 04-11-2013, 10:22 AM   #23
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Re: Sea sickness?

I began diving in Hawaii and never got sick, Once I moved back to Connecticut and began diving in much less visibility I got sick almost every dive. Scopace (Pill) has been a life saver for me. I get really bad cotton mouth, and on the very rare occasion a short bout of dizziness. I take one Scopace about an hour before a dive and if I am on the water for a long day will take another 5-6 hours in. I have friends who use Meclazine and Bonine, but I have not. I stopped looking for a cure when I found Scopace. Good luck
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Old 04-11-2013, 12:28 PM   #24
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Re: Sea sickness?

We use a product called Trip Tone. It's non drowsey and has worked great for us for years. Sometimes it's hard to locate but I asked my local CVS phar. to special order in 12 boxes for me and they were happy to do so.
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Old 04-11-2013, 04:52 PM   #25
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Re: Sea sickness?

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Originally Posted by EastCoastKumu View Post
I began diving in Hawaii and never got sick, Once I moved back to Connecticut and began diving in much less visibility I got sick almost every dive. Scopace (Pill) has been a life saver for me. I get really bad cotton mouth, and on the very rare occasion a short bout of dizziness. I take one Scopace about an hour before a dive and if I am on the water for a long day will take another 5-6 hours in. I have friends who use Meclazine and Bonine, but I have not. I stopped looking for a cure when I found Scopace. Good luck
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How old is your Scopace? Hope pharmaceutical stopped producing it in 2011. Hope you have a full bottle.
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Old 04-11-2013, 05:17 PM   #26
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Re: Sea sickness?

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This is something I've dealt with all of my adult life. When I was younger I never got seasick once, but now I always get seasick. Once it starts nothing helps (puking, looking at horizon etc...) except getting back on dry land.
It really sucks so here is my seasickness Bible:

Useless: Regular Dramamine (Dimenhydranate). It barely works and will put you to sleep.

Little Better: Non Drowsy Dramamine, Bonine (Meclizine). Works well but makes you a little drowsy. Take one before bed the night before and one the morning of your trip. I have plenty of energy on boat but find it makes me drowsiest when I return to dock. That night I'm a walking zombie.

Better: Transderm Scop (Scopalmine). These are the patches that you put behind the ear. They work great and don't make you drowsy but they are very expensive. One patch will last a full three days so if you are going an a trip that long they are great. But if you only need for one day it's an expensive waste of money. They used to sell it in the States in a pill form called Scopace. But for whatever reason they stopped producing it. Pill was good because it would last 12 hours instead of 3 days. NASA is working on a nasal spray form that should be ready in a few years. It's being tested by FDA.

Best: Kwells (Hydroscine). It's basically the same as scopalmine. Works great and does not make you drowsy during or after your trip. The best part is it's a pill that lasts 4-6 hours so it wares off quickly if not needed. You won't fall asleep at the bar after your dive trip (yes it's happened). It requires a prescription in the US but can be ordered for a little over a dollar a pill including shipping.
Kwells has been a life saver for me many times. I probably would have sold my boat if I did not find it.
That is the best advice so far.
I have tried everything, (even what the astronauts used in space), and Kwells works far better than any of them.
I buy mine direct from Australia, no prescription needed.
I am not aware of it being available in the USA, please fill me in.
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Old 04-11-2013, 05:45 PM   #27
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Re: Sea sickness?

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That is the best advice so far.
I have tried everything, (even what the astronauts used in space), and Kwells works far better than any of them.
I buy mine direct from Australia, no prescription needed.
I am not aware of it being available in the USA, please fill me in.
Correct Kwells is not available in the US with or without a prescription. Sorry, I was not clear in my post.

I buy my Kwells from Australia also. Worth every penny.
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Old 04-11-2013, 07:20 PM   #28
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Re: Sea sickness?

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Originally Posted by Water Boy76 View Post
How old is your Scopace? Hope pharmaceutical stopped producing it in 2011. Hope you have a full bottle.
I heard that it wasn't being made anymore, but I didn't have a problem getting it in 2012, so I thought it was just a rumor. Maybe my CVS had a lot in stock. I have enough to get me through this dive season, I guess I will have to try one of the above options for 2014. Sorry for posting a review for a RX no longer available.
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Old 07-15-2013, 12:50 PM   #29
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Re: Sea sickness?

Where do you guys buy the Kwells from? I am having a tough time finding it?
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Old 07-15-2013, 12:53 PM   #30
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Re: Sea sickness?

Scratch that... found it! Hoping it helps!
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