Seasickness can quickly ruin your diving liveaboard trip, causing an unpleasant sensation of vertigo. It’s a common symptom that many travelers and divers experience, even the most veteran ones! In this article, we’ll be discussing the cause of seasickness and how to remedy it.
Seasickness
First of all, what exactly is seasickness and how is it triggered?
To understand the feeling, or experience of seasickness, we first have to know the mechanism that triggers it in the first place. Seasickness occurs when our body’s internal sensors and balance-sensing systems are out of sync due to the repeated motion of the boat cruising on the waves.
As the ship sails in open waters, we can clearly feel the rocking motion of the vessel as it hits the waves. However, sometimes our eyes cannot register this movement – either due to being in open water and not having a fixed point to relate to for motion reference, or when we’re below deck and cannot “see” movement, yet our bodies can still “feel” it. This mismatch of sensory information is what triggers the seasickness, or motion sickness.
Ways to prevent seasickness
Getting seasick can quickly ruin the mood of your diving trip, especially on our extended liveaboard trips. Here are some proven remedies to try when you’re feeling sea sick.
Watch what you eat
An empty stomach can make the seasickness more pronounced. Therefore, having a proper meal is important before cruising the seas. We recommend eating a meal 45 minutes to an hour before leaving shore. It’s also a good idea to avoid greasy or acidic foods, since they can contribute to the seasickness even more.
Stay hydrated
Drink plenty of water to keep your body hydrated and your stomach filled. It will also help metabolize the food and process everything else better.
Confirm your senses
As we mentioned above, the main cause of seasickness is the mismatch of sensory readings of your surroundings and your body. Therefore, an effective practical way to remedy seasickness is by confirming your senses and your surroundings. You can do this by focusing your eyes on the horizon, which helps give your brain a reference point for the movement of the boat. Things to avoid include reading for prolonged periods of time, focusing on close objects and, if possible, avoid going below deck where you have no reference point at all for your brain to refer to.
Medication
Another alternative to the practical remedies above, is through medication. Read up on over-the-counter antiemetic medications such as Meclozine or Dramamine. Be sure to take the medication the night before the trip to establish the proper blood level of the drug.
Seasickness affects even the most seasoned travelers, fishers and sailors – so don’t feel embarrassed or discouraged if you experience it too. The best prevention is being prepared, and be sure to keep in mind the tips listed in this article.
Ready to discover the sublime water of Indonesia? View our liveaboard itineraries for detailed diving destinations with Calico Jack Charters.
