Yes, divers can become ill before, during, or after scuba diving. Causes range from seasickness and motion-related nausea to ear or sinus problems, cold stress, dehydration, and serious diving-related injuries. Symptoms should not be dismissed as a normal part of the sport, especially if they begin during or after a dive.
Common problems divers may experience
- Seasickness: Boat movement can cause nausea, dizziness, and vomiting. Ask a healthcare professional about suitable prevention if you are prone to motion sickness, and check that any medication is compatible with diving.
- Ear and sinus problems: Congestion or difficulty equalizing can cause pain or injury. Do not force equalization; postpone the dive if you cannot equalize comfortably.
- Cold stress: Inadequate exposure protection can cause shivering, reduced dexterity, and impaired judgment.
- Decompression illness: Symptoms can develop after a dive and require urgent assessment. No table or computer guarantees prevention.
- Other illness: Fever, infection, breathing problems, unusual fatigue, or other health changes can affect fitness to dive.
How to reduce risk
- Do not dive when ill, impaired, unusually fatigued, or unable to equalize.
- Discuss medical conditions and medications with a qualified medical professional familiar with diving.
- Use suitable exposure protection and maintain equipment properly.
- Follow training, monitor depth and gas, and stay within the dive plan.
- Communicate early with your buddy and end the dive if symptoms affect your safety.
When should you seek medical help?
Seek urgent medical evaluation for concerning symptoms after diving, including unusual weakness, numbness, confusion, difficulty breathing, severe pain, fainting, or other significant changes. Tell the medical team that you have been diving and provide details about the dive profile and timing. Follow emergency procedures and do not delay care while trying to diagnose the cause yourself.
Bottom line
Some minor discomforts can be prevented with planning, but illness and diving injuries can be serious. Cancel when you are unwell, never force your body to complete a dive, and seek qualified medical advice for symptoms that are severe, persistent, or occur after diving.
For general prevention guidance, consult Divers Alert Network and your training agency’s current materials.
Common reasons divers feel unwell
Feeling sick after scuba diving can have many causes, including seasickness, dehydration, heat, cold, anxiety, fatigue, ear or sinus problems, and unrelated illness. Some symptoms can also indicate a serious diving-related injury. The timing, severity, and combination of symptoms matter, so do not automatically assume that nausea, headache, dizziness, weakness, or unusual tiredness is harmless.
Reducing avoidable discomfort
Rest adequately, drink fluids appropriately, eat in a way that suits you, and avoid diving when you have a respiratory infection or cannot equalise comfortably. Use suitable exposure protection and avoid overheating while waiting to enter the water. Tell the instructor or guide if you feel unwell before a dive; postponing is safer than trying to push through symptoms.
When to seek medical help
After diving, symptoms such as weakness, numbness, unusual dizziness, breathing difficulty, confusion, severe pain, or other concerning changes require urgent medical assessment. Contact emergency services and a diving-medicine resource when a diving injury is suspected, and follow their instructions. Do not attempt to self-diagnose or resume diving until appropriately assessed and cleared.