Brain-freeze Headache in Cold Water

[Brian Huff]

So far, I've only done quarry diving, only 14 dives in, still practicing/learning.

Our local quarry thermocline is 30'ish feet where it drops down to about 68F, then another few degrees around 42 ft.

When I hit about 45 ft I get a quick headache, it feels like the brain-freeze you get when you eat ice cream too quickly.

I'll ascend to 30 ft and I'm fine again.

I have not used a full hood yet, just a 3mm do-rag style head cover, however, the freeze seems to hit my face more than any other place. I'm not too cold in the rest of my body, even in a 3mm suit.

I hit about 45, then my face gets a quick hit of cold and the brain-freeze headache hits right away.

Anyone else experience something similar?

 

[The Chairman]

I've endured this during a mini season. It's horrible, but I soon got used to it. I think a hood is a way to avoid it.

 

[Marie13]

Get a hood! It really does help. I’ve only dived without a hood several times.

 

[matt86]

A hood helps, but when the water is really cold, (mid 30's) I still get it pretty bad for the first few minutes.

 

[TMHeimer]

I've dived wet in a lot colder water but always use my hood (if it's warm enough not to, I still use it to help keep water from going DEEP into my ears). My hood meets my mask skirting, so the only thing really exposed to water is around my lips.
Maybe this is why though I've been cold on many occasions, never one of those brain freezes.
Then again, maybe it's just in your head.....(had to say that).

 

[Ayisha]

A hood will really help. Around here, thermoclines give me a face freeze with a hood below about 45F/7C or so, but I get used to it after the initial shock.

If you have to do a mask re and re (like in a course) at 38-40F/3-4C, I've definitely had an icecream headache while the mask is off, resolving shortly after.

Blowing an SMB with cold numb lips can be comical as the gas escapes past the mouthpiece. If you put the SMB in the corner of your mouth, it works much better.

The joys of cold water. Wearing a well-fitting hood and well-fitting full suit and keeping your core and extremities warm (gloves & neoprene socks) should help.

 

[Ben_3]

I would go for a good hood to start off with in those temps..

 

[Marie13]

Waterproof brand hoods are all I’ll use.

 

[Eksilbergenseren]

The face is normally very robust, but your forehead is not. Make sure to select a hood that does not leave a gap between the hood and the mask. For really cold water finding the right hood is almost more important than the rest of the thermal protection. Brand recommendations from fellow divers are great, but the hood must fit your head, and your mask. Ideally, he mask should go ontop of the mask seal.

A cold forehead will, in addition to beeing uncomfortable, also increas the chance of having problems equalizing.

I learned this the hard way, dooing my open water certification in water just above freezing. 2-3 deg c. The ice-cream headache Ayisha describes above is more like a nail driven into your forehead ;-)

 

[almostDIR]

I use a 5mm full hood for quarry diving in summer if the temp at bottom is around 10deg. Celcius and if it is lower temp for extended periods like 4 or 5 degrees C them I will use my 10mm hood. Will get the cold headache easily so the 10mm hood is in regular use.
If the water temp is lower than 4C then I may use the lip protector on the regulator mouthpiece as well. Lip freezing tends to be a problem for me if the water temp is around 2 Celcius or so but 4 C is normally fine without the protector.

The full hood has the added benefit of reducing bubble noise so I use one even in pool