Dizziness During Descent/Ascent

[Neil Norman]

This has been a problem for approx. 12 months. It usually happens at about 10-12m and then again about 18-20m. Completely disorientating when it happens and pretty scary !

I am breathing normally during the dive...no skip breathing,etc. I flood my hood to make sure there are no temp/pressure differences on my ears. And I have no idea whats causing it. No other known health problems.

If anyone has any ideas, thoughts or opinions I would be grateful for them.......Cheers.

[Andy Wade]

This has been a problem for approx. 12 months. It usually happens at about 10-12m and then again about 18-20m. Completely disorientating when it happens and pretty scary !

I am breathing normally during the dive...no skip breathing,etc. I flood my hood to make sure there are no temp/pressure differences on my ears. And I have no idea whats causing it. No other known health problems.

If anyone has any ideas, thoughts or opinions I would be grateful for them.......Cheers.

Hi Neil,

Flooding your hood may be part of the problem if one ear is colder than the other.

This does sound like alternobaric vertigo, have a look here for more information:

<a href="http://www.scuba-doc.com/otherent.htm" >http://www.scuba-doc.com/otherent.htm</a>

Their full ENT section is here too:

<a href="http://www.scuba-doc.com/entprobs.html" >http://www.scuba-doc.com/entprobs.html</a>

You should be able to find out everything you need at the ScubaDoc website, but I reckon you need checking out by your Doc or a medical referee as it may point to something more serious and it's better to be safe than sorry.


Hope this helps,




.

[Neil Norman]

Useful sites, thanks very much.......and I guess an appt. with the doc is the way forward.

Cheers.

Neil

[Norm]

Neil I do not know how many dives you have but frequently new divers experience some dizziness during ascents. (Too rapid an ascent can cause dizziness as well) Not meaning to distract from the possibility of a physical problem, could it be that you are really "into" bubble watching? Some divers become very disoriented from rising bubbles.
Also, a little water into your ears at the very beginning of the dive should suffice without adding more later. Whatever it is, good luck to you in your search for a cure.
Norm

[neil norman]

Neil I do not know how many dives you have but frequently new divers experience some dizziness during ascents. (Too rapid an ascent can cause dizziness as well) Not meaning to distract from the possibility of a physical problem, could it be that you are really "into" bubble watching? Some divers become very disoriented from rising bubbles.
Also, a little water into your ears at the very beginning of the dive should suffice without adding more later. Whatever it is, good luck to you in your search for a cure.
Norm

Thankyou for your thoughts, I will keep them in mind. However I have over 500 dives under my belt and as an advanced diver/instructor I hope I am not bubble watching......the problem has only recently started so I think it might well be physical.

Thankyou for taking the time to post,
cheers,

neil

[Norm]

Then this certainly is a puzzle, as you exclaimed. (I don't understand the event happening only at specific depths) Would you care to contact me when you find the cause/problem, (and I certainly hope you do!)?
Norm