Completed my PADI O/W this weekend but had a problem since

redtreble · 12-05-2007, 12:58 PM

Hi All!

I'm thrilled to have done it, never thought I was capable, but turns out it was easier than I expected. I think learning in the warm, clear waters of Tobago helped though

Anyway, I did my CESA on my third open water dive, and as I'd been diving straight off the beach, this was the first descent I did from depth. Anyway, I made a bit of a hash of it. Couldn't descend at first and then descended too quickly. Couldn't equalise properly and by the time I got to the bottom, I was in considerable pain. I sorted it out but when I surfaced, I had some blood on my face - no idea where it came from.

Anyway, it's three days later and I've still got a headache. It's not a bad one but it's there constantly. I also think I have water in my ears still. I'm fairly sure it's all just sinus-related (I've always been sensitive to this sort of thing - on planes for example) and nothing more serious but just thought I'd come on here and ask the advice of experienced divers, so any feedback would be most welcome.

It hasn't put me off though. Can't wait to get back and get in the water again!

**dalehall** · 12-05-2007, 01:16 PM

First off: Congrats on your certification. Welcome to the wonderful world of diving.

The blood was more than likely from your sinuses. Happens all the time. I had three guys in O/W class get blood from just tying to equalize too hard. But, since none of us here are medical professionals, I would suggest you take a quick trip to your local health care provider to get checked out. Like you said, it's probably just sinuses and ear water, but you don't want to chance it being anything else. You don't want to get that certification and then not be able to dive again for a long time because you let a small problem blossom into a bigger one. If nothing else, the Doc can give you something to clear your sinuses.
Let us know how it turns out.

redtreble · 12-05-2007, 01:21 PM

Ok thanks DH. Good advice - I'll do that.

The instructor did actually mention that the blood was as a result of trying too hard to equalise.

**MgicTwnger** · 12-05-2007, 03:24 PM

The problem descending/ascending was your bouyancy control. That will improve with experience. It sounds like you might carrying too much weight, a common problem for "newbies".
You could ask your instructor for help with this or, better yet, take "Peak Performance Bouyancy". Review your textbook for how to check your weighting.

BTW...how fast you descend is not very important (as long as you can stop!

), but you must be able to control how fast you ascend.

**Scuba Mama** · 12-05-2007, 03:34 PM

Hey Redtreble,

Congrats on becoming and open water diver

As for the sinus and ears, Dalehall is right on go get them checked. You want to have your ears looked at. If your still hearing water you may have a problem with an ear. The doctors have a tool which can pressure test you ears if they hurt. The doctor has used this from time to time with me when my ear acts up. It will give him and you a quick test to make sure your able to handle the pressure changes or if you need to give your ears a little more time to heal.

As you dive more you will now how the pressure feels and get more use to equalizing. When I started I would hold my nose and blow easy now I just swallow. It took a little time to learn but it happens.

Last little bit of advise: If it hurts stop, fix the problem, if the problem does not fix, abort the dive. Pain is the body sign something is wrong, if you push past it you will do more damage then good. This is the same advise I give all my beginning divers.

Scuba Mama