3 Tips to Prevent Seasickness For Scuba Divers
Feeling seasick happens to even the most advanced divers once in a while. To ensure you have the best possible scuba diving experience around Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, and Bali we have put together some of our best advice for preventing that awful feeling so you don’t spend the time feeding the fish.
With incredible Dive Sites like Manta Point and Crystal Bay just 5-30 minutes away, our wide and spacious boats already help to keep things as steady and comfortable as possible – but sometimes we need extra tricks to help beat that nasty seasickness. Let’s dive into it!
Tip 1: Being Responsible The Night Before
We know, we know! You might be here for a good time and not a long time. Whether you’re on vacation or just visiting Nusa Lembongan for a short stay, enjoying the nightlife is exciting and fun. Our beautiful island has so much to offer including the restaurants and bars. However, if you have diving booked for the next morning, it’s best to drink responsibly, stay hydrated, and probably pass up on that 3rd Bintang.
Alcohol is a major catalyst for motion sickness and can change your diving day from easy breezy to queasy – FAST. We highly recommend avoiding alcohol altogether the night before. When you go back home to tell the stories of your adventures, “scuba diving with manta rays” would be a much better story than “throwing up on the boat” – trust us!
Having alcohol in your system or fighting a hangover while scuba diving increases risks and ultimately is very dangerous to not only you but also your buddy and dive group. Dehydration, fatigue, and nausea are never a fun time, especially underwater. We want you and everyone else to have the best experience possible!
Self-Care is Key
Whether your dives are planned for the morning or afternoon, we recommend having a nice light meal about 1-2 hours before hopping on the boat to keep your stomach and brain happy and healthy during your dive.
Between dives, our incredible kitchenhand Anik prepares the most delicious Indonesian meals for your surface interval. We are always stocked up with fresh water on the boat to keep you hydrated as well. You’re very welcome to come and visit us at The Lounge if you’re after a super tasty pre or post-dive meal, Anik works her magic here as well!
Making sure you’ve eaten and had some water before getting started with your dive day will further prevent any illness setting in before your first dive.
Now that we’ve spoken about nutrition and hydration, the final self-care tool is to get enough sleep the night before. Being well-rested will keep you sharp, fresh, and ready for all the incredible underwater adventures we’re about to embark on!
Tip 3: Other Preventatives, Natural Remedies & Medications
You’ve tried everything under the sun to prevent feeling seasick, but it just isn’t working. If you know you are prone to seasickness no matter how much you are trying to prevent it naturally, we have some extra tips.
Strong odors can induce nausea such as strong perfumes, or fuel. If you’re prone to illness, keep as far away as possible from the boat engines to avoid breathing in any strong fumes. The smell of other people’s vomit (for lack of a better word) can also promote sickness. Keep away from these guys while they are feeding the fish!
Eyes on the horizon. During the boat trip, keep your eyes locked on the horizon if your stomach is doing somersaults. The horizon is a static point and can help trick your brain into believing that you are stationary. Let our crew know if you’re starting to feel a little sick, we will ensure that you jump into the water first. Getting off the boat is very helpful and can instantly start to make you feel better in the stomach!
Natural remedies include ginger, ginger drinks, ginger lollies or even Coca-Cola can help too. These have active properties that naturally help to settle and prevent seasickness. Coca-Cola contains phosphoric acid (additive 338 in the ingredients) which is also an active ingredient found in anti-nausea medications.
Please note it is highly recommended to consult your doctor before your Dive Trip to seek any medications you may need should preventative measures not work for you.
If you’re ready to book your dive trip or have any further questions about diving with Scuba Center Asia, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. We look forward to helping you create memories and stories that last you a lifetime.
