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Sea Legs and how to get them

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By Gemma Smith

Most of us have been there at some point in our diving journey. I know that I have, on more occasions than I would like to remember! First comes the initial excitement of going out for an awesome boat dive. Your gear is prepped and loaded on board, your buddies are ready, you start motoring out…and then it starts. The slight upset feeling in the stomach, followed by sensations of cold sweats. and then, often, by general misery. Oh yes, motion sickness (also known as sea-sickness or ‘Mal de mer’) is no laughing matter.

It can run the whole range of outcomes, from being mildly unpleasant to being utterly disabling. I know that at the start of my diving career that I missed so many dives when out on a boat in the choppy waters of the English Channel. The problem is, there is so much amazing diving to be done from boats! I didn’t want to give that up. Over the years I have tried and tested various methods that can lessen the effects of motion sickness, and in this article, I want to look at some of the causes of seasickness, as well as what you can do to prevent it.

So what is motion sickness? 

In simple terms, motion sickness is a very common disturbance of the inner ear due to a repeated motion. Several factors in the body all work together to ultimately make you feel less than your best. It’s a phenomenon that involves your vestibular system (this is the twists and turns within your inner ear, and it plays an important part in the control of your equilibrium), your cerebellum (a part of the human brain that has many jobs, but specifically in this instance, it controls balance), the gastrointestinal tract, and the nerve connections between the inner ears and the eyes. The sickness is caused by a mismatch of information received from several sources.

Anyone can develop motion sickness. It is, however, true that different people often have a different level of tolerance. We see motion sickness all the time in kids, but, interestingly, pregnant women, and people who have a history of migraines are all more likely to suffer from it. Then, of course, there’s us: divers who like to go boat diving, even when our bodies don’t quite have our sea legs sorted yet.

What are the symptoms we can look out for then? 

Oh, we have a whole range of possible effects of seasickness:

  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Often a marked paleness of the face (pallor)
  • Shortness of breath
  • Dizziness
  • Drowsiness
  • Sweating, often cold sweats
  • An overall feeling of discomfort
  • Just not feeling well (a feeling of malaise)

So how can we prevent (or at least lessen) the effects of sea-sickness? 

  • I’ve found that one of the key things that works for me is avoiding certain foods and drinks before I go boat diving. Lay off the alcohol the night before, as this will only dehydrate you. I’ve found that skipping my morning milky coffee also works wonders. Those with a sensitive stomach may find that leaving out all dairy products that morning will help. Heavy, spicy, or greasy foods are often best-avoided too. With that being said, it is important to not go out on an empty stomach. Have simple or bland meals, eat little and often, and stay hydrated! Dry and plain crackers are a good choice. Sometimes it is worth trying ginger tea, or even nibbling a little bit of ginger. Ginger is a well-known and trusted natural remedy for motion sickness. Peppermint tea has a similar calming effect on the stomach. Some people also find that taking small sips of a carbonated drink will help.
  • Make sure you are well rested from the night before. Tempting as it is to stay up late and enjoy the social side of your dive trip, it won’t help you feel better the following morning. Being fresh for diving will markedly lessen your susceptibility to feeling unwell when out on the boat.
  • Get some fresh air. Although all you may sometimes want is to hide away in the cabin, especially when the weather just isn’t that great, it is one of the worst things you can do. Get out on the deck and let the fresh air do its healing work. Just as long as you stay well away from the diesel fumes from the engine, it will make a world of difference. It is also worth thinking about your position on the boat. Oftentimes the middle of the boat will be the most stable, especially if seas start getting rough. Also, when you’re on the boat, don’t get overheated. Keep cool and stay under a sunshade if necessary. Try and avoid putting your exposure protection suit over your head, whether that be a wet or drysuit, until absolutely necessary. This is especially true if your suit has a particularly snug neck seal.
  • Try looking at the horizon. Pick a point, and focus on it. Look out so your eyes can register the same type of movement changes that your ears are reporting. It’s worth making the effort to avoid reading or checking your phone, reading a book, or looking at instruments or gauges too much. It will only add to your body’s conflicting signals. This is also why it is a smart move to have all dive gear ready to go beforehand, so you aren’t having to build your dive set more than needed on a rocking and rolling boat.
  • Think about applying some pressure. Sea-bands have been around for years. Basically, it is an elasticised wristband. There is a small stud on the band which applies pressure over the Nei-Kuan point (located within tissue about 3 centimetres above the wrist joint).  The Nei-Kuan point is thought to have some control of nausea and vomiting. To be most effective it is important that a band is worn on each wrist, and ideally put on before the start of the journey. Many people swear by them, but that being said, there are currently no controlled trials on this technique.
  • There are lots of medications on the market for helping with motion sickness. Make sure you do your research before picking one at random, though. Some can have side effects not compatible with diving. I personally try and avoid them, but make sure you contact a diving doctor or do some research on what DAN recommends before you make the decision to use medication.
  • Remember, as disappointing as it is to miss a dive if you are feeling really unwell, don’t think that getting in the water is always the best idea. While the mild nausea that you have on the boat may lessen when in the water, it will take time. It’s not fair to either yourself or your buddies to put them in the position where the dive needs to be called. While vomiting underwater is possible, it is not something you should ever knowingly take a chance on. Especially in the less experienced divers, it may cause confusion and panic. That’s how dive accidents happen.

These are just some of the many possibilities for limiting your reaction to motion sickness. Unfortunately, there is no one magic cure for ‘Mal de mer’. What works on one dive may not work at all on a subsequent dive. The important thing is to plan ahead, especially if you know you are prone to feeling queasy anyway. Your preparations and possible behaviour from the night before can really have an impact on how much you enjoy your following day of diving.

It is also worth pointing out that you have to be aware that what you believe may be seasickness is possibly hiding other conditions. Feeling unwell before the dive may be quite normal for you, but monitor yourself if you start feeling less than great when you surface. If you feel dizzy, nauseous, or generally unwell, it is possible that it is a sign of decompression sickness, particularly related to the central nervous system or a vestibular problem. It’s important to remember that there is nothing to be embarrassed about if you are sick. It’s a symptom that most seafarers will have suffered from at some point in the past, the present, or even the future! Don’t laugh it off. Stay aware and focused, and most importantly of all, stay safe.


To find out more about International Training, visit www.tdisdi.com.

From its humble beginning in 1994 to today, the group of training agencies Scuba Diving International (SDI), Technical Diving International (TDI), and Emergency Response Diving International (ERDI) form one of the largest diving certification agencies in the World – International Training. With 24 Regional Offices servicing more than 100 countries, the company today far exceeds the original vision the founders had when they conceived the idea on a napkin, sitting at a kitchen table in the early 1990’s.

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Four opportunities to go pro in 2024 with Dive Friends Bonaire

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idc

Dive Friends teaches the Instructor Development Course (IDC) several times a year to students who are eager to share their passion for diving with the world.

Dive Friends is known for the personal approach throughout the course. Their in-house course director will lead the students through every essential step, mentoring them to achieve their fullest potential as a dive instructor.

Applications for the following IDC start dates are now open:

  • 12 April
  • 5 July,
  • 20 September
  • 29 November

Partnership with Casita Palma

If the student opts for the IDC-Deluxe or IDC-Supreme package, their accommodation will be arranged for them at Casita Palma. This small and quiet resort is within walking distance from Dive Friends Bonaire’s main dive shop location and has everything you need to relax after an intense day of IDC training. Breakfast is included, so the student will always be fuelled and ready for their day.

Contact Dive Friends Bonaire’s Course Director Eddy for more information: coursedirector@divefriendsbonaire.com.

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Scubility: Achieving Success through Adaptability

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scubility

Introduction to Scubility

Being a scuba diving professional, I am always fascinated by the beauty of the underwater world, filled with colorful coral and a variety of marine species. Every dive site around the world has something unique to offer, attracting the diving community to immerse themselves time and time again. The feeling of being underwater is a unique experience, akin to being in space, where you can escape Earth’s gravity to enjoy the freedom of movement. However, water sports are often believed to be accessible only to those with good physical strength, leaving others to only dream of being there.

The Genesis of Scubility

Scubility was developed as a way to help people with disabilities experience the magic of scuba diving or snorkeling. A few years back we became involved in the SDI Scubility program as a way to use our diving experience and knowledge to bring disabled people beneath the ocean. To empower them with a feeling where they can forget their disability and limitations. The image of a Wheelchair Hero from the movie ‘AVATAR’, who could walk and run only in dreams, was the first seed of the idea for a local Scubility program.

scubility

Launching the Scubility Course

Since 2014, my friend has dedicated himself to helping disabled people. Knowing that I am an SDI/TDI Instructor Trainer, he called upon me to help bring them into the world of scuba diving. Captivated by this idea, I decided to offer a special diving course adapted for disabled people: the SDI Scubility Course. The sole purpose was to bring happiness and a feeling of belonging back to our precious disabled students, by giving them an immersive experience under the sea. Perhaps, the mother ocean has a way of treating us all equally, to rebuild confidence and give hope of being alive.

scubility

Adapting Diving for All Abilities

Initially, most Scubility divers in our programs were wheelchair users. The main challenge was to design a unique technique suitable for each Scubility diver, based on their limitations. To do so, we set up a protocol keeping in mind all the scenarios that could arise during diving, starting from boarding the boat, to diving, and the communication signals during the dive. Training was also provided to volunteer participants, mostly instructors and assistant divers.

scubility

The Scubility Program in Action

In the last four events, we have enrolled many Scubility divers in the program. We also have a team of trained instructors and assistants; without them, this wouldn’t be possible. The main objective was to make safe and comfortable diving experiences for Scubility students. In fact, in the last Scubility program, which concluded in March 2023, we included a blind diver along with six other Scubility divers. We also had 8 instructors and more than 10 assistant participants to make this possible.

scubility

The main challenge for blind divers is to set up a communication signal. So, I designed a unique ‘touch signal’ for blind students where they just need to touch an arm to convey a message. For example, when an instructor touches your arm twice, it means he is asking, “Are you okay?”. In case of any emergency during the dive, the blind diver just needs to squeeze the arm of the instructor to get his attention to solve the problem. For each Scubility diver, there were at least two personnel, an instructor, and an assistant, assigned.

Impact and Emotions of Scubility

The most satisfying experience of this program was to see Scubility divers happy, with emotional, teary eyes. I could imagine that probably for the first time, or perhaps the only time, some of them could walk, stand, and move again underwater without a wheelchair, feeling alive again. Seeing a courageous Scubility diver overcoming all challenges and obstacles to make it possible definitely inspires me to organize more events like this.

scubility

“Scuba Diving for All” Event

The biggest local Scubility program, named “Scuba Diving for All,” was organized in Khao Lak, Phang-nga Province, south of Thailand, from October 30 to November 5, 2018. We invited international Scubility participant divers for this event. Leading up to this program, we put in lots of effort, preparing hotels and resorts in a friendly design, making sure of choosing good dive sites, and above all, to bring a smile to our precious Scubility students.

scubility

I hope that this endeavor will serve as an inspiration for people worldwide to achieve what may seem impossible, while also raising awareness about the importance of charity and kindness in our society. I look forward to welcoming you soon to our joyful underwater realm.

As an SDI TDI & Scubility IT, Dan Phutthakhun Prungkananon, owner of All Star Diving Academy located in Thailand, has a deep-rooted passion for ensuring safety and fun in the water. Keep up with Dan and the All Star Diving Academy via Instagram  or Facebook and by checking out their Dive Center Facebook.

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