Systematic dizziness + fatigue after every session, ENT and CT scan negative — any ideas?

[EnzCH]

Hi everyone,

I've been dealing with a recurring symptom for a while and I'm hoping more experienced freedivers, or anyone who's been through something similar, can help me out.

About me:
I'm new to freediving — I've done about 15 sessions so far. The first 3 sessions were totally fine, no symptoms at all. The issue started showing up afterwards and has been consistent since. My instructor has looked into it with me but doesn't know what's causing it either.

The symptom:
At the end of pretty much every session (it's almost systematic), right after getting out of the water, I get fairly noticeable fatigue along with mild dizziness. It lasts a few hours and then goes away. There were 2 sessions where the dizziness was much stronger than usual.

A test I tried:
I did one session without putting my head underwater at all, just to see if the symptoms could come. Sea was calm and I didn't take a seasickness pill that day. I didn't get the fatigue, and I wouldn't really call it dizziness either, but I did feel a bit unsteady/off — kind of "wobbly," hard to describe exactly. Not sure if that wobbly feeling is just my general seasickness sensitivity showing up on its own (since I didn't take the pill).

Context on my sessions:

• Usually calm sea, no significant swell
• No ear pain during the dive, no noticeable equalization issues that I'm aware of
• No symptoms during the session itself — it only kicks in once I'm out
• Important point: I'm generally prone to seasickness. If I don't take a seasickness pill beforehand, I'll vomit after about 45-60 minutes on the water
• Whether I take the pill or not, the post-session dizziness/fatigue happens either way. I have the impression it might be slightly less intense with the pill, but I'm not actually sure it makes a real difference
• I've also tried using Hysan nasal spray before sessions to make sure my sinuses/ears were clear beforehand — didn't seem to change the outcome

What I've already done:

• ENT consultation → nothing found
• CT scan → nothing found

My questions :

1. Could this post-session dizziness/fatigue be related to my known sensitivity to seasickness (some kind of "mal de débarquement" or vestibular carryover) ?
2. Has anyone experienced a similar pattern (dizziness + fatigue right after getting out, ENT/CT negative) and found a cause or fix?

Thanks in advance for any input, happy to hear any angle !

 

[Scott Valentine]

Try shore dives and see if it persists.

 

[josep.htaylor]

I’d look into vestibular rehab exercises. Your symptoms sound like motion sensitivity that diving triggers, even without boat movement.

 

[EnzCH]

Yes, you are correct. I've been diagnosed with BPPV, so when I move my head down, the crystals move and give me dizziness or vertigo.

 

[rollerGR]

I've had BPPV in the past (we call it otolith detachment here, commonly. Not sure if it's accurate but the medical name is the same with BPPV: ΚΠΙΘ). not sure what caused it, it kind of just happened. i wasn't diving at the time
it went away by itself but only when i basically stopped moved my head entirely, resting on my back (double pillow) and avoiding any sudden movements. took 2-3 weeks from what i remember. avoid anything that might aggravate it
i could dive completely normally afterward

 

[josep.htaylor]

The dizziness might be linked to seasickness sensitivity rather than diving itself. For lingering fatigue, I’ve personally found the supplements at https://nuvirox.com helpful for recovery after physically demanding sessions. Their NAD+ Restore supports energy levels without stimulants. Maybe try land-based equalization drills to isolate the head-movement factor. A gradual approach might clarify what’s causing the imbalance.