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The Scuba Species
10 Scientifically Proven Tips To Treat Seasickness When Scuba Diving
So there I was headed out on my first ever scuba dive when all of a sudden my stomach starts roll. If you have ever experienced seasickness before then you know what I’m talking about. That uncomfortable feeling of nausea that leaves you waiting for what will inevitably be an unwanted surprise appearance of your breakfast.
Unfortunately I lost my battle and spewed all over the surface of the ocean during a skills circuit. Luckily since then my stomach has toughened up and I no longer need any help to control my nausea. However for those of you who are still struggling and whose seasickness is preventing you getting out on the water then look no further.
In this post we cover all bases from how to prevent seasickness, treat seasickness in the moment and deal with seasickness on a dive.
Disclaimer: I am in no way a medical professional. These tips are acquired from personal experience research and observations.
Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you go through them to make a purchase we will earn a commission. Our aim is to help our readers through these links so everything we promote will be high quality products we personally believe in.
What Causes Seasickness?
Seasickness unsurprisingly is a form of motion sickness which means that if you suffer in cars or planes then you are likely to get seasick too.Â
It is caused by a conflict between your senses. Your ears and muscles which are in movement thanks to the rocking of the boat and your eyes which perceive relative stability as you move with the boat.
Your body, getting confused by these mixed signals, responds by releasing a series of stress-related hormones which ultimately cause nausea, vomiting and vertigo.
How To Prevent Seasickness
1) Medication
Luckily for us seasickness is treatable and the easiest way to prevent it is by taking medication.
There are lots of over-the-counter medications that are fairly easy to find in most pharmacies. Common drugs include:
- Meclizine (also known as Bonine)
- Dimenhydrinate (also known of Dramamine)
- Cinnarizine (also known as StugeronÂ
It is also worth trying your medication prior to your trip especially if you’re heading out on a long one like a liveaboard. You definitely don’t want any negative reactions tainting those precious memories.
If you don’t like pills then you can also ask your doctor for a prescription of Scopolamine (Scopoderm) patches which you can wear behind your ears.
Most medications work best taken a few hours prior to your journey so this solution does require a bit of pre-dive planning.Â
If you have already departed then it’s worth asking your dive centre if they stock any medications as you might just be in luck.
2) Stay Hydrated
Aside from taking pills there are other ways you can help prevent seasickness. Most importantly with diving is to stay hydrated.Â
Seasickness and medications associated with it can cause dehydration. Water and juice like carrot and apple with low acidity are perfect but steer clear of things that contain caffeine.
Although seasickness is not inherently dangerous the effects of being seasick can also cause some risks when coupled with diving. If you have been physically sick then you are likely to become dehydrated. Dehydration as we know increases risk of Decompression sickness. In this instance it is important to rehydrate, especially with electrolyte sports drinks if possible.
3) Eat Light
Travelling on an empty stomach can make you more susceptible to motion sickness as the liquids moving around inside can worsen feelings of nausea.
Have a light meal 40-60 minutes before you travel but do not overeat. This could be just as bad for your body. Also this is probably the only time you will hear that snacking regularly is a good idea!
4) Eat, Drink & Sleep Right
Since nausea is the key symptom of seasickness avoid food and drink which are likely to aggravate the body. Plain bread, crackers, soups and fresh vegetables are best opposed to greasy, spicy or acidic foods, like citrus. Similarly avoid alcohol as many of us are already familiar with the after effects associated with that pass-time.
Also as seasickness is a stress response make sure you are well rested and as calm as you can be before heading out on your adventure.
How To Treat Seasickness
Sometimes it’s too late to prevent seasickness using the methods above but all hope is not lost. There are a few methods you can try to help alleviate symptoms. Bear in mind that not all these will work for everyone so try them out to find what suits you best.
5) Avoid Strong Smells
Stay away from strong smells like that of diesel fumes, exhaust or fish. These usually magnify seasickness symptoms. Instead try any stay in the fresh air, perhaps on the top deck of the boat.
6) Avoid Reading or Watching Anything
Motion sickness is often caused by focusing on things like screens or books. This increases the mixed messages between your eyes and ears. So avoid these activities if you don’t want to start feeling sick.Â
On the other hand researchers have discovered that listening to music can help with nausea and motion sickness. Even better why not switch to an audiobook.
7) Pressure Points
Along the inside of your wrists is an acupressure point called the nei-kuan. By pressing down just under the crease of your wrist with your index, middle and ring fingers you trigger the nei-kuan. Apply firm pressure on each hand for four to five seconds for quick relief.
Alternatively you can invest in pressure wrist bands which work in the same way.
8) Natural Remedies
Some natural substances have been said to help reduce nausea like chamomile tea which reduces acids and relaxes stomach muscles.
Ginger is also a good option and can be consumed in many delicious ways. From biscuits to sweets to ginger beer.
Mint is rumoured to help settle the stomach which is an easy thing to chuck in your bag or drink as tea.
Or green apples whose high pectin content supposedly slows down digestion and settles the stomach.
9) Eyes On The Horizon
It is a common belief that by keeping your eyes on the horizon you can help reduce your seasickness. Moving to the front of the boat could also help as there you have a more focused view. If not the middle of the boat is also a safe bet as this is where there will be less movement. Personally this method does not agree with me however it’s worth giving a go. After all it could be your saving grace!
10) Have A Cigarette
This is a controversial one and is yet to be fully proven by science. However smoking has been shown in some studies to reduce nausea.
Of course long term smoking comes with an array of health risks and that is before getting anywhere near the world of diving. Damage to the lungs and cardiovascular system can greatly increase the risk of getting DCS and also worsen the symptoms should you fall ill. However that is just touching the surface.
Long story short, smoking just before a dive is not the best idea as it reduces oxygen saturation and increases carbon dioxide retention. However if you happen to find yourself getting seasick and you are really out of options then having a cigarette might just help. Especially if for whatever reason you are on a boat that’s not going diving.
Dealing With Seasickness During Diving
If you are feeling well enough to dive then you may also be in luck. Often the symptoms of seasickness subside once under the water where the rocking motion is normally much calmer than the surface. Most times this will be enough to dispel the uncomfortable feelings of nausea associated with being seasick. Just another reason to get diving!
Can I Be Sick In A Scuba Regulator?
However sometimes this is not the case as surge (back and forth motion underwater) or a particularly sensitive stomach can enhance feelings of nausea. If this is the case there is no reason to worry. It is perfectly possible to throw up, cough, sneeze or hiccup underwater as many have found out the hard way.Â
The most important thing to remember in any of these circumstances is to keep your regulator in your mouth. It is the bodies natural reaction after vomiting to breathe in, which is not possible if you have taken your regulator out.
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How To Be Sick In A Scuba Regulator
If you do have some pre-warning then you may want to switch to your secondary mouthpiece and warn your dive buddy. This ensures you are in the most safe and comfortable position possible and that you can switch back to a clean reg once your done.
When you are throwing up don’t hold onto the regulator as vomit will come out of the exhaust on either side. You can try and press the purge at the same time though as this can help flush the mouthpiece and stop any unwanted vomit from coming back into your mouth. Pressing your tongue to the roof of your mouth should also help prevent this when you breathe back in.
When you are all done and dusted you can switch back to your primary regulator if you changed beforehand.
Being sick doesn’t necessarily mean you need to end the dive. As with most things it is important to pay attention to what your body is telling you. If you continue to feel unwell or fatigued then it’s ok to end the dive at any time but if you are feeling fine then you might want to enjoy all the new aquatic life that is feeding off your unfortunate belly troubles.
In any case make sure that once you resurface you send a little more time than you would usually to cleaning your regulators. If you decide to get them serviced for an even deeper clean or are renting them then make sure to give the service technician or dive shop a warning beforehand. After all no one likes a nasty surprise.
Dealing With Seasickness After Diving
According to NOOAA seasickness usually occurs within the first 12 to 24 hours on a boat. Normally it will go away once your body acclimatises to the ships motion which happens when your brain adapts to the movement of the boat and so stops sending mixed messages.
Will I Ever Get Over Seasickness?
The more time you spend on boats the more likely you are to acclimatise and get rid of seasickness. Even I eventually found my sea legs. But that being said even seasoned sailors and divers still suffer from seasickness from time to time.
Do you have any questions or tips on dealing with seasickness you think could help someone? We would love to hear them in the comments below.
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Katie Braunstein
I have been a traveler my whole life, having been born in Zimbabwe but growing up mostly in the UK. I first got into diving three years ago when I met my partner and fell in love. Since then it has been my passion to share this love of our underwater world with others.
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