8 dives into my Cozumel dive trip I found myself in the "chamber". End of dive trip, couln't even go snorkel with whale sharks. Basically confined to airconditioned, no exercise (thank goodness Villa Blanca's internet service reaches the rooms) drinking tons of water.
I usually plan on doing 4 or 5 dives a day when on a dive vacation (which all my vacations in the last couple of yrs have been).
Here are the facts that lead to my spending a couple of days in the Coz chamber. I am 58, overweight (5' 11" 235 lbs) in fair physical condition (I swim 1.5 miles twice a week and mountain bike up in the Park City area quite aggressivley twice a week with an occasional raquetball game thrown in. I take a couple of meds for hypertension although I have cut them in half since my average blood pressure reading is about 110 over and 73 with a resting pulse of 58. I go on an average of 4 dive trips a year and follow the eat dive sleep routine. Ah one other factor. I had some swelling in my ankles a yr ago and the doctor (who has approved me for diving without reservation) put me on a common water pill. Therein lies the rub. I usually stop taking the water pill before I go on dive trips. for reasons I can only describe as a brain fart I didn't think about it this time. My dive profile was as follows
2 dives 8/16 #1 max depth, 83 ave depth 54.7 39 minutes using 21%
Interval 1:22#2 max depth, 64 ave depth 46 52 minutes using 36% followed by 21:27 hour interval
2 dives 8/17 #1 max depth 80 ave depth 51.5 54 minutes using 21%
interval 56 minutes #2max depth 54 ave 42.8 58 minutes using 21%
20:30 surf interval then 4 dives 8/18 #1 max 91 ave 52.5 53 minutes
interval 55 min. #2 max depth 59 ave 42 6 1 min.then surface interval 5:47
#3 max depth 62 ave depth 42.3 52 minutes followed by surf int on 50 minutes
#4 max depth 40 ave depth 33 54 minutes.
I only used nitrox on the one dive.
2 hours later in hyperbaric chamber. My thanks to DAN whom I mistakenly called even though I had dive assure. They answered my questions and directed me to the chamber. Seriously, thanks!
Other factors: every dive ended with a full 5 minute safety stop between 15 - 20 feet. Very gradual ascent, 30 ft per minute. Drank pleny of water before and after every dive.
After the second dive I experienced some pain in muscles of stomach and chest on left side but it felt like I had perhaps bruised myself leaning over boat. No big deal I thought. pain vanished once I was back in water (till an hour after diving 4th). No tingling or joint pain. Dive was done by 10 pm. Pain all over abdomen began within an hour. I jumped on here to see what the heck was going on. I downloaded my dives so I could peruse them in case the doctor needed the data (and to prove I had not been an idiot - which I had been, remember the water pill?). I caught the taxi and had directions thanks again to DAN. Dr. Pascual Piccalo checked me out and put me in the chamber with another guy to monitor me for 5 hours 48 minutes. I watched "Men of Honor " and "A Knights Tale". Oh and they have great artwork on the outside of the chamber - wish I didn't know that however I think I chose a great place to get bent. The doctor was exceptionally experienced and knowlegeable. I spent the next day in the hospital since I was alone and had no one to watch me then I re entered the chamber for another 2 1/2 hours (Watched "Meet Joe Black" this time. And was sent home although I saw the doctor the next 2 mornings for a checkup and I have been cleared to fly home Saturday at 4 pm.
Other symptoms, in fact what convinced me was bluish bruising all over my abdomen (also back but I couldn't see that) and Dr. Piccolo noticed my eyes didn't
track his finger very well and I couldn't walk a straight line. Oh, and I have never had a drink of booze or coffee. But that water pill, what an idiot.I was dehydrated, no mater how much I drank I peed it away, along with the heat and humidity here.
I hope this helps others avoid making the same mistake, and don''t think you are clear due to lack of tingling and joint pain. Between diveassure and my home insurance this will not cost me anything except lost dive time (which devastates me) and a STRONG suggestion to not dive for 6 months. That last one is the toughest of all. At no time did I push beyond my computer limits. This totally caught me by surprise.
A special thands to the folks at Scubamau who informed my wife (who was in Japan) and actually hauled me to and from the subsequent dr visits along with allowing me to never have to haul my gear around (give it to them, show them how I like it set up once then bingo, I was done except for the diving) They were amazing, going far above and beyond the call of duty. I have never been treated so royally. Mau came and visited me in the hospital to see what else they could do. Thanks again to them.
I usually plan on doing 4 or 5 dives a day when on a dive vacation (which all my vacations in the last couple of yrs have been).
Here are the facts that lead to my spending a couple of days in the Coz chamber. I am 58, overweight (5' 11" 235 lbs) in fair physical condition (I swim 1.5 miles twice a week and mountain bike up in the Park City area quite aggressivley twice a week with an occasional raquetball game thrown in. I take a couple of meds for hypertension although I have cut them in half since my average blood pressure reading is about 110 over and 73 with a resting pulse of 58. I go on an average of 4 dive trips a year and follow the eat dive sleep routine. Ah one other factor. I had some swelling in my ankles a yr ago and the doctor (who has approved me for diving without reservation) put me on a common water pill. Therein lies the rub. I usually stop taking the water pill before I go on dive trips. for reasons I can only describe as a brain fart I didn't think about it this time. My dive profile was as follows
2 dives 8/16 #1 max depth, 83 ave depth 54.7 39 minutes using 21%
Interval 1:22#2 max depth, 64 ave depth 46 52 minutes using 36% followed by 21:27 hour interval
2 dives 8/17 #1 max depth 80 ave depth 51.5 54 minutes using 21%
interval 56 minutes #2max depth 54 ave 42.8 58 minutes using 21%
20:30 surf interval then 4 dives 8/18 #1 max 91 ave 52.5 53 minutes
interval 55 min. #2 max depth 59 ave 42 6 1 min.then surface interval 5:47
#3 max depth 62 ave depth 42.3 52 minutes followed by surf int on 50 minutes
#4 max depth 40 ave depth 33 54 minutes.
I only used nitrox on the one dive.
2 hours later in hyperbaric chamber. My thanks to DAN whom I mistakenly called even though I had dive assure. They answered my questions and directed me to the chamber. Seriously, thanks!
Other factors: every dive ended with a full 5 minute safety stop between 15 - 20 feet. Very gradual ascent, 30 ft per minute. Drank pleny of water before and after every dive.
After the second dive I experienced some pain in muscles of stomach and chest on left side but it felt like I had perhaps bruised myself leaning over boat. No big deal I thought. pain vanished once I was back in water (till an hour after diving 4th). No tingling or joint pain. Dive was done by 10 pm. Pain all over abdomen began within an hour. I jumped on here to see what the heck was going on. I downloaded my dives so I could peruse them in case the doctor needed the data (and to prove I had not been an idiot - which I had been, remember the water pill?). I caught the taxi and had directions thanks again to DAN. Dr. Pascual Piccalo checked me out and put me in the chamber with another guy to monitor me for 5 hours 48 minutes. I watched "Men of Honor " and "A Knights Tale". Oh and they have great artwork on the outside of the chamber - wish I didn't know that however I think I chose a great place to get bent. The doctor was exceptionally experienced and knowlegeable. I spent the next day in the hospital since I was alone and had no one to watch me then I re entered the chamber for another 2 1/2 hours (Watched "Meet Joe Black" this time. And was sent home although I saw the doctor the next 2 mornings for a checkup and I have been cleared to fly home Saturday at 4 pm.
Other symptoms, in fact what convinced me was bluish bruising all over my abdomen (also back but I couldn't see that) and Dr. Piccolo noticed my eyes didn't
track his finger very well and I couldn't walk a straight line. Oh, and I have never had a drink of booze or coffee. But that water pill, what an idiot.I was dehydrated, no mater how much I drank I peed it away, along with the heat and humidity here.
I hope this helps others avoid making the same mistake, and don''t think you are clear due to lack of tingling and joint pain. Between diveassure and my home insurance this will not cost me anything except lost dive time (which devastates me) and a STRONG suggestion to not dive for 6 months. That last one is the toughest of all. At no time did I push beyond my computer limits. This totally caught me by surprise.
A special thands to the folks at Scubamau who informed my wife (who was in Japan) and actually hauled me to and from the subsequent dr visits along with allowing me to never have to haul my gear around (give it to them, show them how I like it set up once then bingo, I was done except for the diving) They were amazing, going far above and beyond the call of duty. I have never been treated so royally. Mau came and visited me in the hospital to see what else they could do. Thanks again to them.
Last edited:
