Worried about diving for first time

[RedRooster]

I'm currently on vacation in Thailand, and I've always wanted to scuba and now seems like the perfect time. Except--I've always been very sensitive to changes in pressure. Like when I'm in the water and go under more than 5 feet deep I feel pressure. And it's especially bad on planes. Sometimes my ears will get excruciating pressure during takeoff or landing. I've always thought that this was due to my allergies which leave my nose and throat stuffed up a lot. I should also say I'm 28 and i n pretty good health.

So I should I hold off on the scuba? Also, if anyone knows a good diveshop to take an intro course from, let me know. I was thinking of going down to Phuket if I end up doing this. Thanks.

[Boat]

I won't take credit for finding this site, but I saved it...so here it is. I found the "adams apple" maneuver to be most effective for me. Check it out under the "video portal". Good luck!

http://faculty.washington.edu/ekay/index.html

[underwater daphne]

to reassure yourself, you could see a doctor specialised in diving so he/she can give you a checkup. many have problems equalising in the beginning but learn to do so more effectively with practice.

[durian]

I suggest you try some shallow water snorkelng first. See how that goes. If you have problems wit that, you should see a doctor familiar with diving medicine. Find one who dives. Just type in dive medicine and and your locality and see what pages come up.

[DandyDon]

Dealing with pressure changes is part of the learning process, as well as part of the challenge. Diving to 33 feet doubles the pressure; dropping down to 133 feet is easier in that the relative change is slower for the feet down, but still puts you at 5 times the pressure. Those of us with hay feer type allergies often take decongestants, but other times - it's contradicted. I still do the dives, with equalizing skills.

Doctor first, Resort course first, Real thing - gotta' start somewhere.

[eponym]

I'm currently on vacation in Thailand, and I've always wanted to scuba and now seems like the perfect time. Except--I've always been very sensitive to changes in pressure. Like when I'm in the water and go under more than 5 feet deep I feel pressure. And it's especially bad on planes. Sometimes my ears will get excruciating pressure during takeoff or landing. I've always thought that this was due to my allergies which leave my nose and throat stuffed up a lot. I should also say I'm 28 and in pretty good health.

So I should I hold off on the scuba? Also, if anyone knows a good diveshop to take an intro course from, let me know. I was thinking of going down to Phuket if I end up doing this. Thanks.

Given what you say about airplane travel, I'd say a thorough check-out by your doctor is in order, before you start a scuba course, so you can be sure there's no physiological impediment to diving.

I still feel a lot of pressure in my ears as I start under water. I've learned to equalize with every exhale while descending, so I can keep the pressure from building. I still have to hold my nose and blow (known as the Valsalva method); none of the subtler moves work for me.

If I feel I can't equalize at any point, I just ascend a foot or three and try again. And once you pass twenty feet or so it gets a lot easier, as Dandy Don pointed out, because the pressure isn't building as fast.

Bryan

[Xanthro]

Sometimes my ears won't equalize while flying, and at times I've been in some great pain. However, I don't have any problem equalizing my ears while diving.

The same might not apply to you of course.

When I'm flying, because the change is so gradual I sometimes forget to equalize until pressure has built up, or I'm asleep and can't equalize. I can even feel the pressure change in a tall elevator.

When diving, it's easier to remember to equalize, and I haven't quite gotten diving and sleeping down , plus, if the pressure is too much, you can always go back up.

Having trouble with our ears in planes doesn't mean you'll have trouble in the water, maybe you'll be lucky in that regard as I am.

Xanthro

[Jason B]

I can even feel the pressure change in a tall elevator.

A trip to the top of the Empire State Building had my ears in a mess for week.
I have a Dalmatian that loves to ride and hang her head out the back window. If I'm driving about 55 and have my back windows open and the front ones up, the pressure build up in the car drives my ears crazy.
Diving....no problems.
Good luck!

jason

[outlawaggie]

Bear in mind, as you take off the pressure outside is decreasing whereas diving the pressure is increasing. My wife had the same concerns but has foound that snorkeling to fifteen feet is not a problem. (I'm still working on her to dive)

[DandyDon]

Bear in mind, as you take off the pressure outside is decreasing whereas diving the pressure is increasing. My wife had the same concerns but has foound that snorkeling to fifteen feet is not a problem. (I'm still working on her to dive)

I thought it was that - as the plane gains altitude, and the outside pressure drops significantly to 30,000 feet or more, the cabin and system automatically dropped pressure to equivalent of 8,000 feet. Cannot imagine why it would increase on take off, and indeed Padi, DAN, etc. teach the equiv of 8,000 feet. I think this was selected and designed because some people start getting altitude sickness at 10,000 feet. I have, camping in the Rockies.

So, as the plane goes up, you can get a reverse squeeze; as it descends, you can get a direct squeeze. I take sudafed type decongestants an hour before the plane takes off and yawn a lot. :jawsdown: With Scuba, I still hold my nose and blow on descent, but have no problems on very slow ascents.