Managing Seasickness Before and During a Dive
Seasickness can derail your entire dive day. Discover proven strategies to prevent nausea before and during your dive for a smoother, safer experience.
SAFETY WHILE DIVING
Managing Seasickness Before and During a Dive
Even the most experienced divers aren’t immune to seasickness. Whether you're prepping for a liveaboard adventure or heading out on a small dive boat, motion sickness can turn anticipation into agony. Fortunately, there are several ways to keep it under control — both before and during your dive.
Seasickness happens when your inner ear senses motion that your eyes don’t register, causing a mismatch in signals to your brain. The result? Nausea, dizziness, cold sweats, and sometimes vomiting. For divers, this isn’t just uncomfortable — it can lead to dehydration, exhaustion, or even a missed dive entirely.
Preparation is everything. If you’re prone to motion sickness, don’t wait until you’re on the boat to act. Anti-nausea medications like meclizine (Bonine) or dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) are more effective when taken at least an hour before boarding. Many divers also swear by Scopolamine patches, which are placed behind the ear several hours in advance and provide long-lasting relief.
Other pre-dive tips include:
Avoid heavy or greasy meals beforehand
Get a full night’s sleep — fatigue makes symptoms worse
Stay hydrated, but don’t chug water right before departure
Skip alcohol and caffeine, both of which can dehydrate you
Pack ginger chews or ginger tea — ginger has natural anti-nausea properties
Once you’re on the boat, position matters. Try to stay in the center of the vessel, where motion is less intense, and keep your eyes on the horizon. Lying flat on your back and closing your eyes can also help during rough crossings.
If you start feeling queasy while gearing up, take deep, slow breaths and avoid watching other divers kit up — focusing on small, jerky movements can make things worse. Splashing into the water can actually relieve symptoms, especially in cooler seas, as the motion decreases and the body reorients.
Underwater, seasickness typically fades, but it’s still wise to dive conservatively. Vomiting through a regulator is possible and not dangerous, but it can be distressing if you’re not prepared for it. Keep your reg in place, exhale slowly, and ascend if symptoms worsen.
If you’re especially sensitive, consider shore diving or choosing larger, more stable dive boats. You might also benefit from planning trips with calm sea forecasts and avoiding long travel days that leave you exhausted before your dive even starts.
With the right prep, seasickness doesn’t have to ruin your dive day. A little planning goes a long way toward keeping your stomach and your dive plan steady.
Happy and safe diving,
The ScubaBlast Team
Divers Alert Network. (2023). Motion Sickness and Diving. https://dan.org/health-medicine/health-resources/dive-conditions/seasickness/
PADI. (n.d.). Tips for Beating Seasickness on Dive Trips. https://www.padi.com/articles/how-to-beat-seasickness-on-dive-trips
Mayo Clinic. (2024). Motion Sickness: Symptoms and Treatments. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/motion-sickness/symptoms-causes/syc-20374911
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). (2020). Seasickness: What You Need to Know. https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/facts/seasickness.html