Sea sickness results when the eyes are seeing one thing – e.g., the inside of the boat – while the balance organ (the semicircular canals) detects another – your movement up and down. The brain gets confused, figuring out why your eyes tell you are stationary, but your inner ear tells your brain you are moving.

Other factors can compound the problem: they include alcohol ingestion, anxiety, fatigue, odors (e.g., diesel fumes), being overheated and inner ear injury or infections. The smaller the boat, the larger your potencial for sickness, as smaller boats tend to rock more quickly.

Signs and symptoms include sweating, nausea, headache, drowsiness, increased salivation and a sensation of spinning or dizziness. Vomiting may make you feel better, but the symptoms will not resolve until the inner ear aclimates to the motion or you use another form of treatment.

How to avoid sea sickness and involuntary fish feeding

Before traveling at sea - Be adequately hydrated, nourished and rested. However, if you start to feel apprehensive about the boat ride, don´t eat a large meal before departure. Munch on crackers and sip water or a sport drink.

Positioning – If the boat is rocking bow to stern, seek out a spot in the middle of the boat for the least movement.

Fix on an object – Look beyond the boat: use the horizon as a reference point. This helps your brain to adjust more easily to the instable environment. Avoid focussing tasks like reading, setting up diving equipment and writing.

Fresh air – If you´re feeling ill, nothing worsens it like diesel fumes. Find a spot, where fresh air blows.

Keep something in your stomack – Stay well hydrated before and during your trip. Sip water, juice or sport drinks, but avoid carbonated drinks, alcohol and caffeine. If you are nauseated, don´t drink lots of water since it will create an unpleasant sensation of sloshing in your stomach. Eat saltines or bred to absorb stomach fluids.

Remedies for prevention – There is no cure for sea sickness, but plenty of remedies thought to alleviate its symptoms. If you have discovered a safe system that works, stick with it. The classification of medicaments is “antinausea”. The most common antiemetics are antihistaminas: i.e. Bonine (meclizine), Dramamine (dimenhydrinate), Marezine (cyclizine), and Benadril (diphenhydramine).

Side effects of these medicaments may impair your ability to dive safely, which is why we do not recomend taking them before diving. Some cause drowsiness. Because of this they carry warnings about operating heavy equipment or performing hazardous tasks. Before using antinausea medications always read the accompanyiong information. In order to evaluate side effects take it well before diving on land. If you feel drowsy while taking it on land, the effects may worsen under water.