How to avoid seasickness on the boat

How to avoid seasickness on the boat is a common question for people diving for the first time, especially if boats aren't part of your everyday life. A boat ride is usually one of the best parts of the day, but for people who are more sensitive to the motion of the sea, a few simple precautions make all the difference between a smooth ride and an uncomfortable one.

The first thing is getting a good night's sleep beforehand. Arriving tired or short on sleep leaves your body more vulnerable to motion sickness, since the vestibular system — responsible for balance — works worse under fatigue. Along with that, it's worth skipping alcohol the night before and cutting back on caffeine and heavy, greasy, or spicy food in the meal before the trip, since those tend to make the stomach more sensitive.

Going out on an empty stomach isn't a good strategy either — it can actually make seasickness worse. The best approach is a light meal before boarding, something easy to digest like fruit, bread, and a light source of protein, and staying well hydrated both the night before and the morning of the trip. Sipping water gradually throughout the ride helps more than drinking a lot at once.

During the ride, the most comfortable spot is usually up on deck, out in the open air, looking at the horizon. Staying in enclosed areas of the boat, with no fixed visual reference point, tends to make the feeling of imbalance worse, since your eyes and inner ear end up receiving conflicting signals about motion. Staying toward the center and lower part of the boat also helps, since that's where you feel the boat's motion the least.

Another important habit is avoiding your phone screen or reading during the ride. The combination of a still object right in front of your eyes with everything else moving around you confuses the brain even further and tends to be a strong trigger for seasickness — even in people who aren't usually that sensitive to motion.

If you know you tend to get motion sick — in cars, for example, or in other situations involving movement — it's worth talking to a pharmacist or doctor ahead of time about medication options for seasickness, since many need to be taken before boarding to be effective; taken after the sickness has already started, they tend to have little effect. Ginger, whether in capsule, candy, or tea form, is also a popular and well-tolerated option for those who prefer a more natural alternative, though results vary from person to person.

It's worth remembering that seasickness is a fairly individual matter — what works very well for one person may not have the same effect for another. Following these tips won't completely eliminate the chance of feeling seasick, but it significantly improves your odds of arriving at the dive site feeling good and ready to enjoy the day in the water.

If you still feel uncomfortable during the ride, let the boat crew know — they're used to dealing with this and usually have extra tips and, often, some practical support to make the ride more comfortable until you reach the dive site.