Sea sick

[SuperMiguel]

So i just went out in a boat to do few dives, the sea was a bit rough (4-5 ft waves) and i got realllly sea sick i throw up few times, once i was in the water i feel really good, but once i was back in the boat i went back to feel like sh*t =(

I took a sea sickness pill 3h prior the trip (non drowsiness one) and it didnt do anything

Any suggestions?

 

[Jon_R]

4-5 foot to me is pretty signifigant. No real advice. I try and avoid that big. 2-3 is as far as I go assuming conditions match forecasts.

One thing I do is stand up, hold onto something and watch land. When standing I can use my legs to try and dampen the rolls and chop and seeing land gives me reference to try and stabalize.

 

[SuperMiguel]

4-5 foot to me is pretty signifigant. No real advice. I try and avoid that big. 2-3 is as far as I go assuming conditions match forecasts.

One thing I do is stand up, hold onto something and watch land. When standing I can use my legs to try and dampen the rolls and chop and seeing land gives me reference to try and stabalize.

What do you use to know how would the waves be?

 

[DivemasterDennis]

Super Miguel, I have the same experience and do not take anything for it. If the boat is moving I am fine, but stopped in pitching seas and I have my "moment of release." My solution- or action to minimize impact- is to enter the water as soon as possible, and exit after everyone else has to minimize time on a stationary pitching boat.
DivemasterDennis

 

[SuperMiguel]

Super Miguel, I have the same experience and do not take anything for it. If the boat is moving I am fine, but stopped in pitching seas and I have my "moment of release." My solution- or action to minimize impact- is to enter the water as soon as possible, and exit after everyone else has to minimize time on a stationary pitching boat.
DivemasterDennis

ya i figure that was kinda the solution, just try to stay outside of the boat as long as possible while it is not moving.. Still a pain in the a** wish there was an answer like "my great great greatfather told me long time ago to put lemon in my eyes for few minutes and that will prevent you getting sea sick"

 

[T-Wrecks]

NOAA - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration If you search for your location they provide a marine forecast.

Here is an example of what you are looking for:

Marine Point Forecast for Latitude 30.13°N and Longitude 87.84°W

Weather Underground also does a good job:

Marine Weather | Weather Underground

 

[Jon_R]

What do you use to know how would the waves be?

I put my faith in magicseeweed site for south fla. It is more a surf beach forecast but the diving i do i am closer to the beach then the noaa forecast focuses on. Noaa is up to 20nm out. I am usually 1 or 2 nm out. Ofcourse it can be wrong and conditions can change.

Rough seas is one thing for seasick but also walking across the boat all geared up gets dicey in 4 and 5 footers at 4 seconds. Much more dangerous than diving. My daughter got a big bruise when a guy fell in her lap tank first. Could have been worse.

It helps i have a great shore dive spot if it is going to be rougher than i want to deal with.

 

[mselenaous]

I took a sea sickness pill 3h prior the trip (non drowsiness one) and it didnt do anything

Any suggestions?

Sorry you had a bad day at sea. It happens to most of us at some point.

Motion sickness meds need to already be in your system to work properly. I recommend a double dose before bedtime, another dose upon waking, and yet another dose just as the boat leaves the dock. Now I've got an elevated amount of the meds in my system and the final dose should carry me through the 2nd dive.

I also recommend eating breakfast - no, not a spicy chorizo breakfast burrito or a Grand Slam breakfast - don't want to taste it coming back up . I usually eat something mild and easy to digest like bland carbs such as toast or bagel, oatmeal or sometimes yogurt. Having something in your system to actually toss is much easier than the dry heaves. And when in doubt, reach for the rail and go for distance.

There are other things that can help. Like the Rx Scopolamine patches, or consuming ginger in capsule form or candied as well as ginger ale can be settling.

Look out and watch the horizon, don't hang out over the boat engines or near diesel fumes. Don't look down or go below - it will only get worse. And get off the boat as soon as you can, don't hang out on the surface. I usually tell my buddy I will meet them 10-15 feet under the boat - just look down and join me when you are ready. Or I will wait for you on the mooring line at 15 ft. I also stay 10-12 feet underwater until it is my time to approach the ladder. Hanging on a rough surface just beats me up too much.

 

[SuperMiguel]

Marine Point Forecast for Latitude 30.13°N and Longitude 87.84°W

Cool thanks =)

---------- Post added October 28th, 2013 at 10:16 AM ----------

WoW im not the only one out there thanks guys, ill try all this out next time.. The biggggest problem we had, was that only 3 of us went, (3 guys said it was to cold and called out) so one of us had to stay in the boat to go pick divers if needed, so i stayed first and looked down all the time.. By the time the other 2 guys came i was dead

 

[djtimmy77]

I get seasick from a pitching boat, seasick bobbing on the surface, and seasick underwater if there is a fair amount of surge. VERY jealous of people who are unaffected!!!

I agree with taking the medication the night before to get it in your system. In addition to making it work better, it also seems to make you less drowsy while you are on the boat and while diving. There are different ingredients, you may need to try a couple different pills before finding the one that works for you. I use original Dramamine and then plan on a solid nap when I get home after diving. haha

Also the suggestion of looking at the horizon and standing is a good one.

Set up your gear and get your legs into your wetsuit before you leave the dock. This minimizes the amount of time you have to look down and into the boat.

That being said, we tend to avoid diving on rough days simply because getting back on the boat becomes a lot more dangerous, and the pitching boat with heavy tanks and clumsy gear is a good recipe for an injury. Not to mention being harder for your boat and other boats to see you on the surface even with 6' SMB's.