Contact Info:
Phone: (617) 277-2216
Fax: (617) 738-5213
Address: 213 Boylston st. Brookline, MA, 02445
HRS. mon-fri 10:7 sat 10:6 sun closed
brookline@ecdivers.com
News & Events
New Diver Gear Package Special
Check out the great discounts we have for new divers buying gear. No other store comes close!
Time is running out for the philippines!
If you were thinking about the philippines trip call soon! We won't be able to book any more people before you know it!
Check out Photos from our trip to the St. Lawrence
This wreck diving trip was fantastic! Check out photos to get you ready for next year!
$50 off when you sign up for OW pool and classroom training.
*only valid for purchases of $150 or greater
How To Beat Sea Sickness
or at least not vomit on the crew....
Now that Summer is coming back around, diving the beautiful New England coastline is a glimmer in our minds. One of my favorite aspects of New England diving is the outstanding shore diving that is available. But even still, if you don't do at least a few boat trips out to the Poling for a great wreck dive, the Isle of Shoals to dive with the seals, or one of our fun scallop dives, you're missing out on some great diving.
As we know,
the waters of Massachusetts do not like laying down for any extended amount of time. It can be common for 3 to 5 foot waves to roll around out there for weeks on end. If you only went on a boat when the ocean was calm you might never dive off a boat in New England. But not to worry! There are a few tricks that can be used to get you in the water with the fish rather than on the boat feeding them.
First and Foremost... Accept it! You might get sea sick. Most of the people I've seen get seasick, and I've seen "really seasick", never admit that they may get sea sick before the trip. Then by the time you're out rolling around with your head between your legs it's usually too late. Once you have admitted, yes.. there may be a problem, we can approach some solutions.
Solution 1 - Medication. There are many companies that make motion sickness pills. They work wonders on keeping you from getting sick. They can also keep you from forming complete sentences or put you in the corner of the boat drooling on yourself. To say it simply, drowsiness may occur (they down play that well), memory impairment is common, as well as the feeling of an anesthetic through your body. I usually will use half a pill and still be pretty useless the rest of the day. If you do use medication follow the directions on the container.
Solution 2 - Wrist Bands or Scents. I call these the "new age" approach. The way the wrist bands work starts with the hard plastic piece in the band. This piece presses on a point on the inside of your wrist. This is meant to affect the way you feel balance curing the sickness. The scents can be applied to many areas such as the cheeks, lips and ears. It creates a smell that settles your stomach. This at least lets you get in the water sans vomit. Whether these be true cures or placebos I have no idea. But I have seen a fare share of sickies use these with success. I've also seen an equal share have no luck.
Solution 3 - Ginger. It's usually taken as a capsule and was a remedy used by ancient Japanese sailors. Ginger has had a reputation to settle a stomach for many years now. I have used this technique with some success but at the same time with more than moderate seas, ginger pills be damned. I'm gonna puke.
My last piece of advice. Get in the water. Once you get under and the waves are gone, most start to feel better. If you do get in the water and you do still get sick. Please, just puke through your reg. I assure you the ratio between average vomit chunk size to regulator exhaust diameter is meant to be. Other wise you may end up like my friend Jeff. And I quote
"she spit out her reg and turned to me as if to say something... then puked in my mouth".
Alex (ECD Staff)
©East Coast Divers 2010