Fast ascend vertigo

[klaustrof08]

Hi to all.

I am relatively new diver with about 40 dives, i got AOW PADI, Wreck dive, deep dive etc etc...

Last week i scheduled dives for 3 days in a row in my local diving centar so yesterday was my first (and last for now) dive.

So i arrive at the dive site, got ready, equipment check and we go from the shore and start diving. We go like normally up to like 4-6 meters until we reach
the wall so we can descend up to 18 meters. Sometimes i got problems equalizing between 7-9 meters but after that no problem even at 35 meters, so this dive i got this problem again, it happens rarely but i had it and i did it, so we descend to 15 meters and my buddy started to record fishes etc etc when something happend to me. I slowly started to fell like not normal, so i signal to him, he watch me, and suddenly i got vertigo and i got scared byt trying to not panick or hold breath, and my buddy got me out like asap without safety stop and the ascend was faster than 9m per minute we got out in less than a minute from 15.3 meters, and he asked me at the surface if im ok and layed on the back with pumped bcd, i was scared to open my eyes , so after 1 minute i opened my eyes i see everything is normal, and i say lets go back, he says no, we will try at 3 meters can we try i say yes because i thought it was right thing to do since i skipped the safety stop, so we stayed like 12 minutes between 3-4 meters and we got back on the shore, and he said to me that he will not dive with me again untill i check my ears because the problem i got was alterobaric vertigo or something like that and advised me to go to ear doctor.

So since im new to diving and new to this forum i would like your opinion of what i could done better in this case and did my buddy did it right going back

Thanks appriciate

 

[Barnaby'sDad]

Your buddy is right on getting in to see a ENT specialist. Please heed his advise.

Edit: If you have problems equalizing between 7-9 meters...if I had to guess...you’re waiting too long to begin equalizing. If you’re struggling to equalize, ascend slightly, and try it again. You shouldn’t have to force it.

 

[CuzzA]

You are both alive, so I'd call it a success. There was little concern about the ascent given time and depth. People, even experienced divers, have died from vertigo. Your buddy is right, you need to get to the bottom of the issue. Likely much slower descents and ascents will be needed to avoid it.

 

[Sam Miller III]

research 'Alter No Baric Vertigo."

 

[BoltSnap]

This is probably a case of Alternobaric Vertigo which is caused by unequal pressure stimulation in each ear. It is no big deal at all and doesn't deserve the big hoopla you had. Read this please:

Alternobaric Vertigo | Ears & Diving - DAN Health & Diving

You just have to hold on to something and not move until the sensation goes away, no biggy.

 

[klaustrof08]

This is probably a case of Alternobaric Vertigo which is caused by unequal pressure stimulation in each ear. It is no big deal at all and doesn't deserve the big hoopla you had. Read this please:

Alternobaric Vertigo | Ears & Diving - DAN Health & Diving

You just have to hold on to something and not move until the sensation goes away, no biggy.

Thanks, but i wasnt ascending nor descending i was maintaining the depth, any experience share will be helpfull for me. Thanks

 

[Jack Hammer]

Thanks, but i wasnt ascending nor descending i was maintaining the depth, any experience share will be helpfull for me. Thanks

It can still happen at static depth or on the surface. There may be a slight pressure buildup and only one ear clears, leaving an imbalance. I had it happen briefly on land when really congested and I sneezed. It cleared after a second.

 

[AfterDark]

Sometimes one or more of the crystals floating around in the fluid of our inner ear gets stuck on one of hairs that sends signals to the brain, concerning balance. This causes the brain and the eyes to conflict, any movement makes it worse. The crystal(s) can become unstuck quickly of stay there for along time, which would determine how severe the vertigo becomes, the longer it/they remain stuck the more severe vertigo becomes.

There's no way of knowing if that's what happened you but there are meds for it so a trip to ENT MD maybe a good idea, maybe they can figure it out for you.

 

[CuzzA]

This is probably a case of Alternobaric Vertigo which is caused by unequal pressure stimulation in each ear. It is no big deal at all and doesn't deserve the big hoopla you had. Read this please:

Alternobaric Vertigo | Ears & Diving - DAN Health & Diving

You just have to hold on to something and not move until the sensation goes away, no biggy.

I agree to an extent, but I think your analysis is too broad. His description of his experience sounds like he was on the verge of panic. Eyes shut? The environment plays a big role as well. Is there a floor, current, surge, et cetera? These can all lead to problems if you are experiencing vertigo.

I have never experienced it, but have been told while diving it can feel like you're on a roller coaster and in many cases some people can't establish what is up or down.

 

[klaustrof08]

I agree to an extent, but I think your analysis is too broad. His description of his experience sounds like he was on the verge of panic. Eyes shut? The environment plays a big role as well. Is there a floor, current, surge, et cetera? These can all lead to problems if you are experiencing vertigo.

I have never experienced it, but have been told while diving it can feel like you're on a roller coaster and in many cases some people can't establish what is up or down.

I closed my eyes when i surfaced, as to the visual reference i was 1.5-2 from the floor and i had side coral wall i tried to fix my eyes on the floor and touch the tank of my buddy but it didnt helped. As for whats up whats down i had that too but it was like 20 seconds and was gone