I'm new to this and don't get in the water all that often. I was just in Hawaii for vacation and doing some (relatively) shallow dives (25-30 feet). I need a new mask as it's not meant for free diving and doesn't fit all that well. The nose pocket is too small and when I dive I seems to dig into for forehead. At one point I came up and I realised my nose was bleeding. Any ideas what it could be? I'm assuming it's probably nothing to worry about, but just curious if could be a sign of something to be concerned about. Thanks.
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Bloody Nose
- Thread startercadiver
- Start date
Thread Status: Hello
, There was no answer in this thread for more than 60 days.
It can take a long time to get an up-to-date response or contact with relevant users.
It can take a long time to get an up-to-date response or contact with relevant users.
Hi Cadiver,
There might be some thoughts in these threads:
http://forums.deeperblue.net/showthread.php?t=39013&highlight=nose+bleed
http://forums.deeperblue.net/showthread.php?t=30428&highlight=nose+bleed
If you already saw these, I apologize for redundancy! Cheers, maytag
There might be some thoughts in these threads:
http://forums.deeperblue.net/showthread.php?t=39013&highlight=nose+bleed
http://forums.deeperblue.net/showthread.php?t=30428&highlight=nose+bleed
If you already saw these, I apologize for redundancy! Cheers, maytag
Hey cadiver,
This combined with, say, a recent cold or generally thin superficial capillaries in the nose could lead to a nosebleed, due to the pressure difference between blood vessels and mask-airspace (is there a better word for this?).
I didn't find this theory of mine in the above threads..
It could be You're not fully equalizing Your mask. It should sit comfortably on Your face without pressing against it.
This combined with, say, a recent cold or generally thin superficial capillaries in the nose could lead to a nosebleed, due to the pressure difference between blood vessels and mask-airspace (is there a better word for this?).
I didn't find this theory of mine in the above threads..
I also am new to freediving and had the same problem. I also had some sinus pain, although I'm not positive the bloody noses and sinus pain are related, as I would ocassionally bleed without pain. I started to slow down my descents, and give myself more time between dives and it seems to have fixed the bleeding problem. I also found that if I slightly angle my dive, it helps my sinuses.
Hey Sanso- I begin equalization before going under. I seem to be able to equalize my ears with no problem and I don't have any problem with mask squeeze. Also, the sinus pain and bloody nose wouldn't begin until after a few dives. That is what prompted me to slow my dives and extend the time in between. Do you think slowing my descents helped my sinus equalize, or could it be that I am just becoming more flexible with time spent diving? I try to dive at least once a week, more if possible.-bjw (Barb)
Thank you all for the feedback. I did look at some other threads on and did some reading. I suspect it could be one of, or a combination of a few things. It does sound like it's nothing to be too concerned about. It didn't even know I was bleeding until my girlfriend told me. Thanks again. All your insight and experience is great and very helpful to a newbie like me.
Barb, (You don't happen to have a tatoo of a barbed wire around Your upper arm? 
)
I always like slowing things down; and whenever I have a cold or stuffy (please supply proper english word for this) nose/sinuses, slowing down also helps me equalizing, so I think You've picked a good strategy.
It is also true for me (and some others as well, as i gathered), that equalizing gets easier with more time spent diving. Whenever I dive a couple of days in a row, all the cavities in my head (including the brain :t ) seem to get easier to deal with.
I also easily get nosebleeds when I'm generally off-balance, i.e. stressed, immune system down, physically unfit, etc... - I always take that as an excuse for doing something nice (like picking up whatever sports I have recently neglected) and taking a break from whatever stresses me out most.
I hope You don't over-estimate my comments, though. I am by no means a well-trained specialist (neither diving, nor medical), but can only tell You what my experiences are and what works for me. In other words:
Just my two cents worth.
All the best,
sanso
)I always like slowing things down; and whenever I have a cold or stuffy (please supply proper english word for this) nose/sinuses, slowing down also helps me equalizing, so I think You've picked a good strategy.
It is also true for me (and some others as well, as i gathered), that equalizing gets easier with more time spent diving. Whenever I dive a couple of days in a row, all the cavities in my head (including the brain :t ) seem to get easier to deal with.
I also easily get nosebleeds when I'm generally off-balance, i.e. stressed, immune system down, physically unfit, etc... - I always take that as an excuse for doing something nice (like picking up whatever sports I have recently neglected) and taking a break from whatever stresses me out most.
I hope You don't over-estimate my comments, though. I am by no means a well-trained specialist (neither diving, nor medical), but can only tell You what my experiences are and what works for me. In other words:
Just my two cents worth.
All the best,
sanso
It happens to me too, quite often, not all the time. I would love some help to get over this and the underlying problem of not getting past 15M deep.
My conditions/symptoms are:
- no mask squeeze
- I use a very light nose squeeze to equalize, and do it almost all the way down, wiggling jaw etc
- I dive in cold, clean ocean water, 12 deg C.
- I DON'T use fressnel, 'cause I don't know how, yet, have downloaded instructions, just need 6 months dry practice
- I know that my equalization works, because at just less than 15M i feel no pain at all, and, on the way back up, i can feel/hear my ears de-equalize
- i never have nosebleeds otherwise
- I don't have a cold, sinus problems, or use any drugs (a glass of beer does not count right???)
- am 39 years old, and pretty fit/athletic
- rather than a bloody nose, I would say that its more like "rose colored snot" (yuk, sorry)
- I get ear pain at 15M, that I can't equalize away (tried everything, wiggling, re-inverting, going down real slow with deliberate stops) so I keep above that depth, but sometimes hit it "by mistake"
I guess my worries are:
A. am I doing any permanent damage?
B. How will I get over this problem?
C. How will I get past 15M when I have easily enough air (I feel, for double that).
Thanks for the tips if they come..
My conditions/symptoms are:
- no mask squeeze
- I use a very light nose squeeze to equalize, and do it almost all the way down, wiggling jaw etc
- I dive in cold, clean ocean water, 12 deg C.
- I DON'T use fressnel, 'cause I don't know how, yet, have downloaded instructions, just need 6 months dry practice
- I know that my equalization works, because at just less than 15M i feel no pain at all, and, on the way back up, i can feel/hear my ears de-equalize
- i never have nosebleeds otherwise
- I don't have a cold, sinus problems, or use any drugs (a glass of beer does not count right???)
- am 39 years old, and pretty fit/athletic
- rather than a bloody nose, I would say that its more like "rose colored snot" (yuk, sorry)
- I get ear pain at 15M, that I can't equalize away (tried everything, wiggling, re-inverting, going down real slow with deliberate stops) so I keep above that depth, but sometimes hit it "by mistake"
I guess my worries are:
A. am I doing any permanent damage?
B. How will I get over this problem?
C. How will I get past 15M when I have easily enough air (I feel, for double that).
Thanks for the tips if they come..
I would probably try and start using the frenzle, god knows it worked great for me! (however it definatly can be tough to learn) I just spent 4 hours on a couch one day and didn't get up till I could do it. lolz I guess Im one of the lucky ones who just "get's it" Anyway if you decide to persue the Frenzel i wish you good luck! and hope it starts to come eazy!
Hi there azapa!
Hope to be of help... I have been freediving for several years now, and about six months ago I also had my first "bleed".
I'm surprised that everyone feels so sure of it being a nose bleed, I guess if the blood comes out your nose, it is... but in my case, I got that taste in my mouth, spat... and it was super red! I had been having sinus troubles, so for me it was quite obvious that it was a "sinus bleed", so to speak. It's happened again since, but I can always trace why, small cold, not enough sleep etc. Something I do warmly recommend is Neti. The yoga practise of rinsing the sinuses. This is also good if you think it might be more the nose. The salinated water you rinse with clears out the sinuses but also keeps the membranes in the nose hydrated, which might help the small capillaries to not burst. (There are a few a few old posts about Neti if you'd like to read more).
About your three questions;
A. am I doing any permanent damage?
If you push yourself past PAIN, then you might be... if you keep turning when you feel a stop, you probably aren't, if frustration doesn't count as permanent damage
B. How will I get over this problem?
Equalisation is a tricky business. Lots of time in the water is often a key. When you do your 15m dives, and it says stop, are you diving pelagic style, or on a line? It may help to do some really slow dives along a line, pulling yourself down, especially head up. This works for a lot of people. Until you get past that point, then try head down again. Do you stretch your neck/jaw before diving?
C. How will I get past 15M when I have easily enough air (I feel, for double that).
Hmmm, million dollar question. We've all been at a depth where you just feel like you can't get past it. 1stly, don't give up, we have literally all hit the so-called "glass wall" at one stage or another.
I'd also advice you to try and take the number 15 out of your head... just get in the water thinking, I'll see how I feel today. You may be getting your body into a bad habit of revolting at 15m, I have experienced this, and my mindset is what broke my glass wall.
I'll write more if I think of anything, let us know how it goes!
Hanli
Hope to be of help... I have been freediving for several years now, and about six months ago I also had my first "bleed".
I'm surprised that everyone feels so sure of it being a nose bleed, I guess if the blood comes out your nose, it is... but in my case, I got that taste in my mouth, spat... and it was super red! I had been having sinus troubles, so for me it was quite obvious that it was a "sinus bleed", so to speak. It's happened again since, but I can always trace why, small cold, not enough sleep etc. Something I do warmly recommend is Neti. The yoga practise of rinsing the sinuses. This is also good if you think it might be more the nose. The salinated water you rinse with clears out the sinuses but also keeps the membranes in the nose hydrated, which might help the small capillaries to not burst. (There are a few a few old posts about Neti if you'd like to read more).
About your three questions;
A. am I doing any permanent damage?
If you push yourself past PAIN, then you might be... if you keep turning when you feel a stop, you probably aren't, if frustration doesn't count as permanent damage
B. How will I get over this problem?
Equalisation is a tricky business. Lots of time in the water is often a key. When you do your 15m dives, and it says stop, are you diving pelagic style, or on a line? It may help to do some really slow dives along a line, pulling yourself down, especially head up. This works for a lot of people. Until you get past that point, then try head down again. Do you stretch your neck/jaw before diving?
C. How will I get past 15M when I have easily enough air (I feel, for double that).
Hmmm, million dollar question. We've all been at a depth where you just feel like you can't get past it. 1stly, don't give up, we have literally all hit the so-called "glass wall" at one stage or another.
I'd also advice you to try and take the number 15 out of your head... just get in the water thinking, I'll see how I feel today. You may be getting your body into a bad habit of revolting at 15m, I have experienced this, and my mindset is what broke my glass wall.
I'll write more if I think of anything, let us know how it goes!
Hanli
Thanks for the answers guys. I do not use a line, I just dive. I have not tried jaw and neck exercises, will do.
One other thing that puzzles me: i can swim across a bay doing solid 15m ish dives, get out and hang about on the rocks for a while warming up, put my suit up again and swim back. On the way back 6M on starts hurting!! Go figure! I can guess that the water that had entered my ears ran out while resting, and that the "new water" did not fill the ears so well??
I agree that the depth is my wall, but to be honest, i just want to hit the bottom of the bay I swim across, it sucks getting 2M from the bottom and having to turn back because of my dumb equalization problem...
cheers
One other thing that puzzles me: i can swim across a bay doing solid 15m ish dives, get out and hang about on the rocks for a while warming up, put my suit up again and swim back. On the way back 6M on starts hurting!! Go figure! I can guess that the water that had entered my ears ran out while resting, and that the "new water" did not fill the ears so well??
I agree that the depth is my wall, but to be honest, i just want to hit the bottom of the bay I swim across, it sucks getting 2M from the bottom and having to turn back because of my dumb equalization problem...
cheers
You know it used to happen to my freediving buddy all the time and he chronically suffers from allergies. He switched to a super low volume freedive mask and he hasn't had any problems in a while. It happened mostly as a beginner diver but he got over it. Who knows why? Try differnt masks. Don't worry you'll make a excellent dive buddy. You can be the shark bait.
Exactly what starts hurting? Ear canal? Sinuses? Where? Cold water?
Just a guess, during your first swim the ear canal is warm so water (from the warmer surface water) in the canal is quickly warmed, but when you get out of the water at the other side (for a rest) the warmed water leaves the ears, but the ear canal doesn't warm up much, so when you resubmerge, the new cold water doesn't warm up enough and the ear canal sends pain-cold signals to your brain.
But maybe not...
DDeden
Hi Dden, Thanks for the ideas. My pain is pure inner ear canal, no sinus pain (ever). Also, here, the water is cold at all levels, 10 to 12 deg C! The whole pain thing is very frustrating. I am going to start a pool based freediving course soon, I hope the experts there help out.
Good luck with the course. Sounds like a good idea. I had my first ever nose bleed on Monday and then again today. I haven't had any colds or discomfort in my sinuses either, so its got my a little confused. I'm not too worried about it though.
Maybe to get past 15m you need to equalise more often. Since I started equalising before I feel the need I've had very few problems.
Maybe to get past 15m you need to equalise more often. Since I started equalising before I feel the need I've had very few problems.