So Annoyed!

[seaducer]

In the almost 70 years that I have been around I have experienced the inability to go to sleep quite a few times. I found a remedy for his problem in the 60's when I was traveling around the country. If I didn't go to sleep within about twenty minutes after laying down I would take a couple doubles of Jack and roll a fat one. Usually I went off to bye-bye land right away.

Sorry, but while I don't do any of that nasty stuff anymore, the old partier in me says doing that then going to sleep is a colossal waste! Why not stay up and enjoy

OP, it may seem like a really bad idea to dive on no sleep, and it may lead to problems. If the dives are easy and shallow then it may not be a bad idea to dive anyway provided you can function normally, most adults can do so with no problems if it is only one night.

As others mentioned, schedule dives for the afternoon, or if the boats often run with a slot open you can start waking early on your days off and making diving a spur of the moment decision. That way you never know at night whether you are diving or not the next day.

 

[peterbkk]

The "avoid caffeine" advice is important. I have a cut-off time of 12 noon on anything containing caffeine. Most of it will be out of your system 8 hours later when going to sleep.

Also, tire yourself physically. A few hours before going to bed talk a fast walk or a jog.

Of course, a little (or a lot) of exercise immediately after getting into bed also helps ... wink, wink, nudge, nudge.

But, finally, don't worry about it. I often don't sleep at all the first night on a dive liveaboard - a combination of strange bed, engine / generator noises, boat rocking and a touch of excitement. But, I can get through one day of diving with no sleep. The second night, I sleep like a log ... in fact, the extra deep sleeps are one of the pleasures of a liveaboard trip.

Regards
Peter

 

[sharksdelight]

I was a skydiver and jumpmaster for 7 years back in the 70's and jumped on an acrobatic team for most of that time..didn't take up scuba until 81, and now have amassed a bit over 3,000 dives. The adrenaline rush from skydiving has always been greater than scuba, but, in my opinion, scuba has more inherent dangers. There is a significant mental involvement with each sport so it doesn't surprise me that a scuba diver, out of the water for a very long time, would feel anxious and lose sleep. I also suffer from insomnia and have tried most things, however, the stress and anxiety that Lee was feeling, even if he wasn't aware of it, is normal and could have defied prescription drugs like Ambian which affect different people differently. He did the smart thing by postponing his dive until he felt more comfortable. Too many would macho it out and possibly cause themselves and others a serious problem.
Steve

 

[diver 85]

 

[luppie]

Here's my two cents. I dive as much as I can as it is truly my drug of choice giving me the best high and have dived with practically little or no sleep several times. But I know that some people function better than others in this condition (I think I've read somewhere that sleeplessness can cause the equivalent effect of a quart of alcohol - which also affects people differently).

I've also had a long-term health condition and am on a lot of meds which should cause sleepiness, but which, ironically, don't help me to sleep more than three or four hours a night, all of which hasn't prevented me from diving in the past.

However, I discovered recently that, after requiring a medical certificate for Egypt and visiting a specialised diving doctor, the use of certain drugs automatically ban you from diving (depends on country). But since I knew that I could still dive, I just didn't get into it (lied) when filling out the medical release form (I know, I'm a bad person).

Yet, I guess ultimately my health has taken a downturn of late and I ended up foregoing a lot of dives (sniff) out of personal choice and just not to take any unnecessary risks. Basically, when I'm in good shape, I know that I have a very good tolerance of cold temperatures and very good air consumption (I'm small and a girl/woman/lady/female). After the second dive of the day, I would find myself feeling cold (even bundled up more than usual) and using up a lot more air and just not feeling comfortable and being able to enjoy myself.

To conclude, I agree with a lot of the previous posts (afternoon dive, a beer and seasick pills or other equivalent, a good day of diving will eventually help you sleep better plus negotiate to replace dive later) but it's also probably a good idea to listen to your body and know your own personal limits.

Happy bubbles!

 

[ZenDiver.3D]

I'm sorry you did not get to dive and worse you had to pay for it!

Did you speak with the dive op and explained what happened to you? They may put you on a different trip a different day, who knows. I think they rather keep you as a costumer than just take your money!

Hey Leapfrog, maybe he should ask for a deal j/k!

Wiz

Sorry, but I don't agree. If they cancelled their dive within 24 hours of the dive, they need to pay(emergencies are understood). Not sleeping is not an excuse.
OP, I am glad you were stoked about diving again, but it's just not good to work yourself up to a state where you are unable to sleep. Did you go right off to sleep at 8am that morning or were you up most of the day? If I was up, I'd be diving.

And I'm not trying to denigrate anyone, but I live in this area of the world, and it is too common for people here to just blow off dives randomly and not concern themselves with the loss of income for the running of the boat. We have the same rule. I hate that it catches everybody, but otherwise we lose half a boat because they sleep late and didn't feel like hurrying up or a buddy called and they want to catch movie...... It's just the way things are here. Hard, I know.

 

[ZenDiver.3D]

Hi all,

Thanks for the replies

It definately wasnt anxiety - I think I was just conscious of the fact I needed to be up and this kept me awake and the more I thought about it the worse it got! Glad to have received some tips on combatting it in the future, however most of the more favorable options would definately lead to me getting my hands cut off and / or worse over here

Cheers

Lee

Hey, some of the best smoke I ever smelled was at the Chelsea Towers, and offered to me by a police detective who was holding a party in the apartment next to ours. It was a surreal and amazing experience. The next day, one of our girls had left her wallet and mobile in a taxi cab, and he tracked the guy down and forced him to give it al back. Even hungover and tore down, he was a good guy.
You know what they say here, it's the wasta. Not who you know, but WHO you know......

 

[sharksdelight]

Hi Luppie,
I'm leading a group to the Red Sea and Egypt next Oct/Nov. Interested in what drugs a person might be taking that preclude diving there. I'm on Lipitor for high cholesterol
which has nothing to do with diving but who knows how they think over there. And you need a doctors note from a diving specialist? Not just a regular MD?
Steve

ps. We do have room on the Red Sea trip if anyone is interested in joining.

 

[LowVizWiz]

Sorry, but I don't agree. If they cancelled their dive within 24 hours of the dive, they need to pay(emergencies are understood). Not sleeping is not an excuse.

And I'm not trying to denigrate anyone, but I live in this area of the world, and it is too common for people here to just blow off dives randomly and not concern themselves with the loss of income for the running of the boat. We have the same rule. I hate that it catches everybody, but otherwise we lose half a boat because they sleep late and didn't feel like hurrying up or a buddy called and they want to catch movie...... It's just the way things are here. Hard, I know.

Obviously dive ops in all parts of the world have cancellation policies to prevent loss of income due to people just blowing off a dive.
I clearly suggested that he talked to them and find out if they would credit him. It is totally up to the shop to do so or not. Now you may still disagree with me, but I have found a number of shops that have done just what I suggested as show of goodwill to keep the costumer coming back. A busy shop may not even miss the fact that the OP never showed up and was replaced by a walk in costumer. It happens all the time.

Wiz

 

[Shammey]

Garrobo - you give me hope for my future!! I hope to be having doubles and rollign a fat one at 70!!