Dizzy When Surfacing??

[TRACI]

Has this happened to anyone? Sometimes after I have done my safety stop properly and I ascent normal speed, I sometimes get dizzy about the last 3 ft before I surface. Does anyone know what causes this?

[BSea]

Originally Posted by TRACI

Has this happened to anyone? Sometimes after I have done my safety stop properly and I ascent normal speed, I sometimes get dizzy about the last 3 ft before I surface. Does anyone know what causes this?

I have had this happen twice. Both times it was when I had trouble clearing my ears on the way down. The 2 times I had this happen were after I hadn't been diving in over a month. I think I know the rememdy.

[cudachaser]

Dizziness will occur if one ear clears slower than the other ear on the way up

[LiteHedded]

gas expanding in the ear would be my guess.
but I'm no doctor

[texdiveguy]

I suffered an uncomfortable alternobaric vertigo issue 4 years ago on a shallow dive while making the ascent....not a fun feeling.

"In underwater diving, alternobaric vertigo is dizziness resulting from unequal pressures being exerted between the ears due to one Eustachian tube being less patent than the other. This might have occurred due to barotrauma of descent, and/or the effects of nasal decongestants. It is due to unequal increase in middle ear pressures on ascent, is usually mild, and most often cleared by further ascent. When the pressures in both ears reach ambient levels, the stimulus for the dizziness stops. Although most often mild, the vertigo can persist until the diver reaches the surface continuing the unequal pressures, which can damage the inner ear or ear drum.

Alternobaric vertigo is most pronounced when the diver is in the vertical position; the spinning is towards the ear with the higher pressure and tends to develop when the pressures differ by 60 cm of water or more [Edmonds]. Remedies include the Valsalva maneuver, jaw movements, or performing a Toynbee maneuver. A similar vertigo can also occur as a result of unequal heating stimulation of one inner ear labyrinth over the other due to diving in a prone position in cold water - the undermost ear being stimulated."

[FishFood]

Good info texdiveguy!


Ive had some dizziness problems for the past month of dives. One time I got so dizzy I had to hold on to the wall in a spring for a few minutes. Thought i was going to pass out.

[Navy OnStar]

Great info. I have felt this once and Was wondering the same thing.

[BouzoukiJoe A.K.A. wrecker130 AKA Chuck Norris AKA joeforbroke (banned)]

Originally Posted by texdiveguy

I suffered an uncomfortable alternobaric vertigo issue 4 years ago on a shallow dive while making the ascent....not a fun feeling.

"In underwater diving, alternobaric vertigo is dizziness resulting from unequal pressures being exerted between the ears due to one Eustachian tube being less patent than the other. This might have occurred due to barotrauma of descent, and/or the effects of nasal decongestants. It is due to unequal increase in middle ear pressures on ascent, is usually mild, and most often cleared by further ascent. When the pressures in both ears reach ambient levels, the stimulus for the dizziness stops. Although most often mild, the vertigo can persist until the diver reaches the surface continuing the unequal pressures, which can damage the inner ear or ear drum.

Alternobaric vertigo is most pronounced when the diver is in the vertical position; the spinning is towards the ear with the higher pressure and tends to develop when the pressures differ by 60 cm of water or more [Edmonds]. Remedies include the Valsalva maneuver, jaw movements, or performing a Toynbee maneuver. A similar vertigo can also occur as a result of unequal heating stimulation of one inner ear labyrinth over the other due to diving in a prone position in cold water - the undermost ear being stimulated."

I think my sig line says it all... LOL

[Steve Scuba]

Love the info on "Alternobaric vertigo." Thanks, texdiveguy! That is some pretty handy info to have.

After reading that, I wonder if "spinning" in the other direction on ascent would help any.

[WaScubaDude]

Originally Posted by texdiveguy

snip...

Alternobaric vertigo is most pronounced when the diver is in the vertical position; the spinning is towards the ear with the higher pressure and tends to develop when the pressures differ by 60 cm of water or more [Edmonds]. Remedies include the Valsalva maneuver, jaw movements, or performing a Toynbee maneuver. A similar vertigo can also occur as a result of unequal heating stimulation of one inner ear labyrinth over the other due to diving in a prone position in cold water - the undermost ear being stimulated."

Great post, but can you define the "Valsalva & Toynbee" maneuvers??
Also, does descending a little and trying agan to clear help??