Diving Sickness

[penguinator]

Ok maybe some enlightened members on DB can help me out with this problem, as so far noone else has been able to solve this mystery.

Whenever I go spearing, after about the 10th dive, I start to feel ill. It seems that after I feel this sickness, my bottom time halves, and then I just no longer can continue. It never happens when I freedive... only spearfish.
Here are some thoughts from other people on what they think could be the problem, and their solutions.

Problem: Seasickenss
Solution: Take seasickness tablets, drink ginger beer.
Result: Nothing...

Problem: Dehydration
Solution: Drink plenty of fluids before dive
Result: Still nothing, although I have been told that I should tow a waterbottle behind my float, thus allowing me to drink while diving. I have still yet to try this.

Problem: Elevated rate of diving
Solution: Allow greater rest periods between dives
Result: I have an average dive time of 1:20 when I spear.. I have been giving myself at least 3mins recovery and still no result.

Now it doesnt really have anything to do with depth either. I fish anywhere from 8m to 17m and still makes no difference. It really annoys me that I have such a thing blocking me from diving for more than an hour.

Seeing as inhale diving for fishing obviously is not working for me, I will start to practice exhale diving and see how it goes, But I still would really like to pinpoint why I feel sick while fishing.

 

[shoutatthesky]

It sounds to me as if you are not giving yourself a long enough surface interval. Try 5 1/2 - 6 minutes.
How are you resting on the surface? I recently identified this as a limiting factor in my water time - not feeling sick but not allowing my body to relax enough to get an efficient rest. This thread may give a few helpful tips.
http://forums.deeperblue.net/genera...-open-water.html?highlight=resting+open+water

 

[penguinator]

Please keep in mind that these problems are while fishing.
My rest periods are idealy face-down breathing through the snorkel so I can keep an eye on the bottom (if I can see it).
Also, in the average 1:20 I am diving, I do not recieve any contractions. Surely this means I do not need to rest for more than double the dive time? If for any reason I do encounter any contractions, I make sure my rest period is longer between those dives.

I have a nasty suspision that the problem lies in dehydration. I will go today and make an attatchment on my rig which allows me to tow a water bottle.

 

[dugout]

For me, swallowing sea water, even small amounts, has this effect. It's something I live with...

 

[azapa]

although I am a beginner, i had a funny day last weekend. On a late evening spearfishing session I suddenly stopped enjoying the dives. I had a feeling of not liking what I was doing, and being uncomfortable being down. My down times also halved, and in the end I just went home! Bummer. The next day, so as not to leave the beach with that thought in my head, i had another session, left the spear and float at home, and probably had my best dives ever. Really long bottoms, completely relaxed state, could go for ever feeling.

I concluded that the violence of the speardiving caused a negative sensation that I could not kick. I had also taken a paracetamol 1 hour before for a headache, could have been that?? Maybe also somewhat tired.
Was weird. Good to know I'm not the only one..

 

[deep thinker]

Ive got exactly the same problem, except I actually start to feel nauseous to such and extent that it feels like Im gonna fall over, like vertigo after the 3rd to 6th dive. Ginger beer and raw ginger doesnt work at all not even tablets. Ive brought it down to overheating in my suit or that its a inner ear pressure problem because it normally starts when I hit below a certain depth a number of times, Im going to the doc as soon as I can get an appointment and will be experimenting a bit more to eleiminate certain factors this weekend. Funny thing is theres only one place I dive that it doesnt happen but that is 4 hours drive away so its not like I can go there every weekend.
http://forums.deeperblue.net/spearo-board/65205-nausea-while-diving.html maybe read through this thread Ive started when I joined DB there mite be something usefull in there...

 

[wet]

This may be off the mark, but is the water at depth cold and are you "sitting" there while a current is pushing against one ear while flowing by the other?

I don't know if this might cause nausea, but it relates to sound, balance and vision senses, called nystagmus, it's related to spinning in a circle until dizzy, the way the eye tracks fast and slow at different times, but also somehow relates to ear temperature.
Here's some info. from a site on the vestibular system, might be a part of the problem.

"Either warm (40°C) or cold (30°C) water is introduced into the
external auditory canal. In normal persons, warm water induces
nystagmus that beats toward the ear into which the water has been
introduced, whereas cold water induces nystagmus that beats away from
the ear into which the water has been introduced.

Nystagmus. With large head rotations, such as with a 360-degree body
turn, compensatory eye movements take another form (Fig. 15).
Initially, the vestibulo ocular reflex directs the eyes slowly in the
direction opposite to the head motion. This movement is called the
slow phase. When the eye reaches the limit of how far it can turn in
the orbit, it springs back rapidly to a central position, moving in
the same direction as that of the head, also known as the fast phase."

Have you tried thermal ear-plugs (have small hole in center of plug I think)? Do you get ear exostosis ("surfers ear", bony growths in ear canal) from surfing and diving in cold water?

(I wouldn't trust contractions 100%, they may vary depending on many facdors)

DDeden

 

[Aquagenic]

Personally, I have a tendency to over heat and over breath when using a snorkel. I've figured out how to the manage the the heating effect, but occassionaly, I have to grab something solid and get my whole head out of water, do a long or negative static with the snorkel to build up CO2, then I'm good to go. After a little while, I have to do it again.

Might be something worth trying. Just try to get dives with the 1st contractions at 1:15 or so. At least you'd know if you have a good amount of CO2.

Also having something bound around my neck tends to make me nausious. Hope it helps...

~JMP

 

[greendiver]

What about some kind of eye problem? if you are fishing you look everywhere, light dark, murcy, good viz, etc....maybe?