We have dozens of slang terms for it: barfing, hurling, blowing chunks. Let’s face it, losing your lunch is never fun. Many scuba divers may find themselves feeding the fish over the side of a lurching dive boat from time to time, and there’s no shame in this. But what if this queasy feeling follows you under the waves? Yes, vomiting during a dive is something that can actually happen, but the good news is that your scuba gear is totally equipped to handle it.
If you’re feeling seasick on the boat, one of the quickest remedies is to get in the water. The up and down motion of the boat is what causes your stomach to flip flop, so once you’re in the water the sensation usually goes away.
While being nauseated underwater is not a common malady, it is more likely to occur when you are closer to the surface, where waves and the motion of the water will be felt more strongly. Other causes include vertigo resulting from incomplete ear equalization, or digestive problems caused by things like overeating right before a dive.
Now, how does your scuba gear come into play? Your regulator is a remarkable device. Thanks to the one-way valve design, anything you send out of your mouth can be purged from the regulator. If you have to vomit during a dive, whatever you do, don’t take your regulator out of your mouth! It may sound disgusting, but since the normal reaction when vomiting is to take a deep breath, removing your regulator could result in inhaling water.
Hold the regulator firmly in your mouth and spew away. The vomit will be forced out the regulator in the same way your exhaled breath is. Nothing will get into your air supply because air does not flow back into your cylinder. Inhale carefully so you don’t suck food particles into your throat. Hit the purge button to help force any remaining particles out of the mouthpiece. Holding your tongue over the mouthpiece opening while doing this will keep any debris from getting pushed back into your mouth.
Under the worst circumstances, if your regulator is compromised or blocked by food particles, you can switch to your backup air source. If this is the case, you should call the dive even if you feel better after emptying your stomach. With your primary regulator out of commission and your backup in use, returning safely to the surface is your best option.
