Sea trek helmet diving in St. Lucia

[lorimay]

I have booked this excursion for us in St. Lucia on our upcoming Southern Caribbean cruise.
Has anyone ever done this type of excursion? Can you tell me about your experience with it please.
I am hoping its similar to snorkeling. I can't snorkel, I just can't take the piece in the mouth and the mask on my nose, I feel like I am smothering.

TIA

 

[Mushu's Twin]

I haven't done this exact excursion, but I have done Sea Trek helmet diving in the Great Barrier Reef. It's like a astronaut helmet. You don't put anything in your mouth or press anything against your eyes. Your head is just basically in a bubble of air underwater, so I think you would be fine.

 

[lorimay]

I haven't done this exact excursion, but I have done Sea Trek helmet diving in the Great Barrier Reef. It's like a astronaut helmet. You don't put anything in your mouth or press anything against your eyes. Your head is just basically in a bubble of air underwater, so I think you would be fine.

Thank you!

 

[sammydent]

We did this in Grand Cayman. It was a little unnerving at first (for me and DD13) but once I relaxed it was really fun. It's just as the PP described...like your head is in a bubble of air.

 

[Mushu's Twin]

Thank you!

Of course!

 

[crafty91]

I have done a helmet dive and have been snorkeling and scuba diving before. The helmet is constricting and its kinda hard to see stuff in the helmet we used, and since the glass was so thick things were a bit distorted. If its the only way you will see stuff underwater then go for it but there are better ways to see things.

 

[AquaDame]

I have done a helmet dive and have been snorkeling and scuba diving before. The helmet is constricting and its kinda hard to see stuff in the helmet we used, and since the glass was so thick things were a bit distorted. If its the only way you will see stuff underwater then go for it but there are better ways to see things.

Since you have done both can you comment on if the pressure with the helmet is the same as with diving..? I tried snuba once before and simply could NOT get my ears pressurized. Wondering if Id have the same issue with this.

 

[Mushu's Twin]

Since you have done both can you comment on if the pressure with the helmet is the same as with diving..? I tried snuba once before and simply could NOT get my ears pressurized. Wondering if Id have the same issue with this.

Helmet diving as the same effect on your ears as scuba diving/snuba. You don't go very deep with helmet diving or snuba which reduces the amount of times you have to equalize the pressure in your ears. Most people think that you only have to equalize your ears once, but it's actually an ongoing process as you go deeper and deeper. The deeper you go and don't equalize, the harder it becomes to do. Pro tip*: if they aren't equalizing, swim up a few feet until you can get them to and start your decent again constantly trying all the way down.

*source: I'm a dual-certified Advanced Scuba Diver

 

[AquaDame]

Helmet diving as the same effect on your ears as scuba diving/snuba. You don't go very deep with helmet diving or snuba which reduces the amount of times you have to equalize the pressure in your ears. Most people think that you only have to equalize your ears once, but it's actually an ongoing process as you go deeper and deeper. The deeper you go and don't equalize, the harder it becomes to do. Pro tip*: if they aren't equalizing, swim up a few feet until you can get them to and start your decent again constantly trying all the way down.

*source: I'm a dual-certified Advanced Scuba Diver

Thats too bad... I did try all these things when the guide explained it to us including trying to go back up a couple times but it was just too painful. I felt it "work" but it stung so badly no matter how many times I tried! I had taken some congestion medication beforehand thinking it might help as well (maybe that did the opposite?). I'll try once more, but I'm pretty worried it won't work out.

 

[FairestOfThemAll37]

Thats too bad... I did try all these things when the guide explained it to us including trying to go back up a couple times but it was just too painful. I felt it "work" but it stung so badly no matter how many times I tried! I had taken some congestion medication beforehand thinking it might help as well (maybe that did the opposite?). I'll try once more, but I'm pretty worried it won't work out.

I would suggest a few things.

Look up different equalization techniques. Most guides and even scuba instructors only teach the valsalva maneuver (pinch your nose and blow). This doesn't work for everybody. I can't clear my ears in that way to save my life.

Practice on land. You'll get more comfortable with whatever technique works and it won't be so foreign when you try to do it underwater.

Start equalizing as soon as your head goes under. Don't wait until you feel pressure. If feel you feel pain trying to clear or when your ears clear, you waited too long. Clear every few feet on the way down.

Decongestants can be a double edged sword. You have to be very careful that they don't wear off while at depth or it can cause problems for you on the ascent. Some people take decongestants (plain sudafed) to help their ears clear easier. But only as an aid-not when they actually have congestion. Don't try snuba/scuba/etc. if you're having sinus issues-you could mess yourself up.

 

[elvispursley]

I'd like to try one of the helmet or even snuba excursions but I ruptured my ear drum years ago and am worried that I wouldn't be able to equalize the pressure in that ear (ended up with nerve damage from that horrible ear infection) . Oh well, snorkeling is still what we end up doing on every excursion and haven't tired of it yet!

 

[FairestOfThemAll37]

I'd like to try one of the helmet or even snuba excursions but I ruptured my ear drum years ago and am worried that I wouldn't be able to equalize the pressure in that ear (ended up with nerve damage from that horrible ear infection) . Oh well, snorkeling is still what we end up doing on every excursion and haven't tired of it yet!

Generally, ruptured eardrums heal and are able to equalize. Sometimes, however, the eardrum heals too tight to equalize properly. I don't know how much of a desire you have to snuba/helmet thingy, but an ENT will be able to tell you if you can equalize or you have any issues that would make it dangerous.

 

[elvispursley]

Good to know, thanks!

 

[lorimay]

Oh boy, now I am getting nervous about ear pressure, I didn't even think of that. When I go underwater I feel pressure.
Ughhhh..... I hate to pay for this excursion then have ear issue under the water.

 

[crafty91]

Go SLOW and equalize as soon as you start under water. RELAX! it will help equalize! Most of these sea treks aren't too deep so if you just take your time you should be ok. If you are worried about it ask if you can go into the water first and can begin working with your equalization as others enter the water. Most likely you will do helmet dive from a dock so you will go down a ladder into the water. If you start feeling pressure in your ears STOP on the ladder until you equalize there then proceed down and so on until you are on the bottom. Tell the dive operator that you may have issues so they can work with you, believe me they want you to have a great time so you will give them a good review for DCL!

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

RELAX! it will help equalize!

I'm not a certified anything, but I do want to emphasize this. Try to stay calm. Remember, if it doesn't work you can always come up.

One thing that I have observed on airplanes (I am a rapid and sound sleeper) is that when I sleep through the ascent or decent of an airplane, my ears adjust to the pressure automatically. I never feel a thing. This is not true when i am awake. So that is my "mind" getting in the way of my body doing its thing. Definitely use the techniques you are taught, but try to do so without "worry." Your body can handle it, if you let it.

Just my experience. Best of luck!

 

[AquaDame]

I would suggest a few things.

Look up different equalization techniques. Most guides and even scuba instructors only teach the valsalva maneuver (pinch your nose and blow). This doesn't work for everybody. I can't clear my ears in that way to save my life.

Practice on land. You'll get more comfortable with whatever technique works and it won't be so foreign when you try to do it underwater.

Start equalizing as soon as your head goes under. Don't wait until you feel pressure. If feel you feel pain trying to clear or when your ears clear, you waited too long. Clear every few feet on the way down.

Decongestants can be a double edged sword. You have to be very careful that they don't wear off while at depth or it can cause problems for you on the ascent. Some people take decongestants (plain sudafed) to help their ears clear easier. But only as an aid-not when they actually have congestion. Don't try snuba/scuba/etc. if you're having sinus issues-you could mess yourself up.

I did try right away (I do feel pressure right away too - even when putting my head under while snorkeling) so maybe the technique isn't a good one for me. They pop frequently when Im driving around on hills and such too above water so maybe Im sensitive? It was plain ol' pseudoephedrine I had - in Portland we have a TON of pollen from grass which equals bad allergies for most people. Since its a prescription (its a controlled substance in Oregon) each pill is a high dose - 120mg meant for 12 hours - I typically cut them in half. I wasn't congested that day but split one with my husband anyway a few hours before we got in the water - he was very concerned about going since he had a lot of ear infections as a kid and had tubes, I assumed I'd be fine. Lo and behold... exact opposite!