Vertigo during Ascent?

[boates]

"I am playing around at about 50 ft. and I see something moving around at 45 ft. and decide to explore. Without rushing to it by ascending too fast, i just breathe deep and gently float up horizontally. "

Just a thought, what if you were to continuously gently exhale the deep breath during ascent?

[Crimediver]

A common cause of vertigo occurs when water of two different temperatures are introduced into the ear canals. This can often occur when passing through a thermocline. The brain interprets the difference of in temperatures in the ears and sends signals to the brain which can affect balance and give the sensation of spinning or disorientation. A tight fitting hood can contribute to water of different temperatures to entering the ear canals at different times. The position of the head can also contribute to this.
If you get vertigo when wearing a hood pull the neoprene away from your ears and allow the water to swish around to get the water of the same temperature in the ear canals.
While not pleasant vertigo can be made to subside fairly quickly. If there is something to hold onto such as an anchor line or buddy it will help to maintain orientation. Don't panic and just enjoy the ride. It will pass pretty quickly.

[Gene_Hobbs]

Sounds like alternobaric vertigo to me...

[SCwes]

Yes me too, and yes it will get your attention quick. I have a lot of dives logged and a lot that arent. My vertigo happened after a very physical job on the surface then a dive to @ 30' to pick up equipment. After picking up equipment from the bottom and starting up (I always watch my tinest bubbles to judge rate) it hit. I've been in all types of dive cond. and have always been very comfortable in them so this helped a ton not to panic. I just feel back on training of Stop, breath, think and continuned to focus on my bubbles till it pasted, then real slow made made accent. Yes I did have a small about of congestion that morning.

[urdiving]

Only time I had vertigo was in the caverns where you depend on your flashlight and reels for sense of direction. Only one time the currents were bad on a dive really bad that I did not have a sense of up or down and got a little dizzy. I think it was due to the fact being about 85 to 100 feet and the current moving too fast downward and spinning us around in the dark. Try slowing it down its never a race to the bottom or top it will always be there and you wont miss out on any action promise!

[musicpeacemaker]

Originally Posted by ndv21

For some reason this issue is sometimes present and sometimes not. Most of the time, I do experience a little bit of vertigo during a dive but it alwas happens during an ascent. It is very small and it never lasts for more that 5-10 seconds. This has happened while diving with and without a hood and I usually have no problems equalizing. I tend to descend rather quickly with no equalization problems as I equalize every 5 ft or so. Any ideas on what might be the cause or any possible solution?

Thats a good question I seem to have the same problem. I ascend feet first and I start my equalizing the minute I go bellow the surface. Still I have a little trouble equalizing and eventually my ear equalizes. What do u do when you do have equalizing?

[navyhmc]

Originally Posted by musicpeacemaker

Thats a good question I seem to have the same problem. I ascend feet first and I start my equalizing the minute I go below the surface. Still I have a little trouble equalizing and eventually my ear equalizes. What do u do when you do have equalizing?

Well, for starters, I would descend feet first and ascend head first... sorry, couldn't help it.

Slow descent is your best bet in that case. There are a lot of different ways to equalize, maybe try another method or combine methods.

This thread may help: clearing the ear methods especially reply #29 by

And this one: Equalizing the Ears

And finally, a few methods: Prevention of Middle Ear Barotrauma

Hope it helps.

And welomce to the forum!

[musicpeacemaker]

Originally Posted by ndv21

I usually ascend at an angle. But the problem is really during just a change of depth. ie:

I am playing around at about 50 ft. and I see something moving around at 45 ft. and decide to explore. Without rushing to it by ascending too fast, i just breathe deep and gently float up horizontally. That will cause a little vertigo. Its not such a major problem but I want to know if it can escalate. I always let my buddy know of this before the dive just for them to be aware.

I notice more of the vertigo decending rather than acsending.

[DivingCRNA]

I get vertigo on ascent a lot. I am horizontal and ascending slowly wearing a hood. I just know it happens and wait for it to pass. Since it is familiar now, it does not freak me out.

[musicpeacemaker]

Seems alot of you have the vertigo during ascent. I have the problem descending thats when it hits me