Anyone dive with the bio-filter that apollo thing that humidifies compressed air/nitrox??
Does it help? I get bad headaches every now and then after multiple dives from dehydration I believe, and sometimes my asthma goes off a bit. I'm wondering if anyone uses this or anything else. Last year I brought a camelback with me to drink underwater, but that really got in my way. Anyone got any underwater hydration tricks they want to share. Ps. still trying to look into getting my pictures posted from last year.

Grace
we'll be back from 12/22/04-01/15/05--yep we added a week from last year!!

Grace - I can't answer your question but we'll be there for 2 of your 3 1/2 weeks. I'm sure you're READY!~!!!

(Message edited by mara2196 on December 10, 2004)

Don't have any experience with the product, but I've heard of a product that's been out for years called Scuda -- Self Contained Drinking Apparatus -- nice name; check it out at www.scuda.com.

Hi Grace.

Considering the extremely arid air/nitrox in all scuba tanks that filter would have to pump out some serious moisture. I have had buddies using the Sherwood 2nd stage that has the metal plate to hold your exhaled moisture a bit say it seemed to help. But other than starting the dive fully hydrated or using a secondary water source during the dive you don't have a lot of options. Slow controlled breathing will help.

Headaches can also be a symptom of too fast ascents, improper equalizing etc. so it's a matter for folks who actually ARE doctors to comment, not me. They don't even let me PLAY a doctor on TV. lol

The moisture retention fins mentioned in the above post are available on the Sherwood Oasis and Maximus regulators. They return about 25% of the divers exhaled moisture back to the diver on inhalation. This is really noticeble when you use one of these regs for a while then change to one that does not have the fins. Along with proper hydration prior to diving these regulators may help with your situation

Thanks for the input--obviously these devices are not used much. I am very conscious about my ascent rates and drink lots between dives--but the equalizatio--sure makes sense I will have to watch that and pre hydrating I could improve on.

Thanks, Grace

ps Marabeth--look forward to meeting you on the island some time

Grace, there is a list of folks on the island when you will be there over in Everything Else Bonaire
Here's the link, feel free to scroll up to find how to add your self to the list, should you choose to.
http://www.oldbonairetalk.com/cgi-local/bbs/board-post.cgi

Hydration:
All of the gadgets I am aware of have been discussed above (SCUDA, Oasis reg, etc.). While I think they all have some utility, I suspect you can get by without any of them.

My advice is to drink early and drink often -- small amounts even when you are not thirsty. Taking an hour off of hydrating to dive should never be a problem if your fluid intake is adequate at other times.

Preferably drink water and try to avoid diuretics (caffeine, etc.). I also think that water closer to room temperature is better processed (cold water may taste better but room temp water seems to treat me better). Ideally, you would also measure your input. One sign to watch for is related to output -- the color of your urine. When it is clear for an entire day it is very unlikely that you are dehydrated.

Headaches:
If this is a serious or chronic problem, I would encourage you to visit a good doc with hyperbaric knowledge. DAN can be helpful in providing you with a list of names. As others have noted, dive headaches can have many causes, please see:
http://www.scuba-doc.com/headache.html
http://www.scuba-doc.com/mgrns.htm
http://www.scuba-doc.com/scubaclinic/ (where you can post a query)
http://diversalertnetwork.org/medical/faq/faq.asp?faqid=30
http://diversalertnetwork.org/medical/articles/article.asp?articleid=61

The last article, in particular, lists many possible steps that might be taken to reduce the risk of headaches. Finally, you might want to also do some research on asthma and diving as well (both DAN and SCUBA Doc have stuff).

Enjoy!

Grace,
I found my headaches were caused by any allergy to something on the Island. My doc prescribes flonase (sp?) at least 2 weeks before I head to Bonaire. Check with your doctor.
Yanagirl

Grace,
I used the Apollo Bio-Filter for the first time on my last trip to Bonaire in September. One thing I would sometimes experience previously was short term headaches after multiple dives. This usually occurred immediately after exiting the water and would last about 10 minutes. In September, we did 18 dives in 6 days, and not a single headache. Five of us who are either instructors or divemasters used them to evaluate them for sale in our shop. Thumbs up all around. Also, there is very little occurrence of dry mouth. The Bio-filter re-hydrates the dry air to 50-70% humidity. This in turn keeps the lung membrane moist for better gas transfer. It may sound like a lot of hype, but I like the effects I experienced.

Robert

Should you be diving ?"my asthma goes off a bit"
If you have cold/dry air precipitated asthma you do not meet any of the current guidlines & are at risk of barotrauma