Along about mid-week of a week-long dive trip my sinuses sometimes get a bit mucus/water logged and I may pop a non-drying, non-drowsey Sudafed 20 minutes before a dive -- but only as a last resort to save the dive and only if I can still manage to clear my ears at the surface.
I usually stick to the advise of my ENT, who also dives, and do a homemade saline sinus 2x/day. It helps keep the sinuses clear and moist -- and happy for diving.
The recipie is:
1. Carefully clean a 1-qt glass jar. Rinse well.
2. Fill the clean jar with tap water or bottled water. No need to boil the water.
3. Add 2 to 3 heaping teaspoons of pickling salt or canning salt. Not table salt. Table salt has additives you don't want in your nose.
4. Add 1 rounded teaspoon of baking soda (pure bicarbonate).
5. Stir or shake before each use.
6. Store at room temperature. After a week, pour out any unused mixture and make a new batch.
I usually stick to the advise of my ENT, who also dives, and do a homemade saline sinus 2x/day. It helps keep the sinuses clear and moist -- and happy for diving.
The recipie is:
1. Carefully clean a 1-qt glass jar. Rinse well.
2. Fill the clean jar with tap water or bottled water. No need to boil the water.
3. Add 2 to 3 heaping teaspoons of pickling salt or canning salt. Not table salt. Table salt has additives you don't want in your nose.
4. Add 1 rounded teaspoon of baking soda (pure bicarbonate).
5. Stir or shake before each use.
6. Store at room temperature. After a week, pour out any unused mixture and make a new batch.