Wait three days after flying in before going snorkeling?

[melissy123]

While this was very sad about the husband dying, I think the lawsuit is somewhat frivolous. But the takeaway lesson from the story is that if you're elderly, or not in good health, or if your lungs are compromised, wait three days to snorkel if flying in from the mainland.

They said her husband drowned snorkeling, but she saw him walk to shore. What happened?

Ray Johnson died snorkeling on Maui in 2022, and his family is suing for a lack of awareness on a medical condition that impacts snorkelers.

www.usatoday.com

 

[Luanne]

We were on a flight to Maui a few years ago and the man sitting next to me had some kind of medical incident. They called for a doctor and had also radioed to the ground in case he needed an ambulance. Long story short, he recovered and didn't meed medical attention once on the ground. But he was telling us that he and his son had some kind of scuba trip scheduled. I sure hope he cancelled.

 

[dioxide45]

I seem to recall that diving may have had something to do with the woman that died while on an American Airlines flight returning from the Dominican Republic not long ago.

 

[GrayFal]

Snorkeling is just breathing - maybe the exertion of swimming could cause a problem? You are just going along the surface of the water, no pressure changes.
Just breathing in and out, looking at fish and coral, I find it so relaxing.

Scuba is totally different - and certainly affects your lungs.

 

[Passepartout]

Anecdotally, we were on Maui with kids & grands around 10 years ago. I (70ish with COPD) was snorkeling and came down with a coughing fit and simply couldn't breathe. Water flooded my mask. Fortunately (for me,) there was a large rock or coral head I could stand on and get my head above water. Scary as hell! That ended my snorkeling career.

Jim

 

[davidvel]

Anecdotally, we were on Maui with kids & grands around 10 years ago. I (70ish with COPD) was snorkeling and came down with a coughing fit and simply couldn't breathe. Water flooded my mask. Fortunately (for me,) there was a large rock or coral head I could stand on and get my head above water. Scary as hell! That ended my snorkeling career.

Jim

Was it a full face snorkel mask? Those things should be banned (and have been by most snorkel boats.)

 

[Passepartout]

Was it a full face snorkel mask? Those things should be banned (and have been by most snorkel boats.)

We weren't on a boat, just waded out from beach. I don't remember whether I had a full face mask or a mouthpiece to bite down on. Memories fade over time.

 

[easyrider]

I seem to recall that diving may have had something to do with the woman that died while on an American Airlines flight returning from the Dominican Republic not long ago.

Yes, you can fly and then dive immediately, but you need to be fully decompressed after diving to fly. Flying is a low pressure event that can release nitrogen into the body. The same thing applies to crossing mountain passes.

Snorkeling is pretty much like standing on the land regarding pressure. No nitrogen builds up. There are other things that can get you when snorkeling.

Bill

 

[davidvel]

We weren't on a boat, just waded out from beach. I don't remember whether I had a full face mask or a mouthpiece to bite down on. Memories fade over time.

The reason I asked is you said your mask filled up causing you to not be able to breathe. With a regular mask you do not breathe through your nose/mask. The full face masks can fill with water and many find them difficult to get off. Fear when snorkling is the biggest danger. It leads to panic when anything goes astray.

As to the original story, I am not particularly fit, but am a strong swimmer. I can swim laps at a high pace using a snorkel so I don't understand the breathing through a straw analogy. Certainly this person had underlying cardio/pulmonary issues. He should have been warned by his doctor, not the resort.

 

[easyrider]

We weren't on a boat, just waded out from beach. I don't remember whether I had a full face mask or a mouthpiece to bite down on. Memories fade over time.

It can be difficult to get a good seal if you have a hairy face. There are mask sealing products that work really good for a regular mask. I'm not sure how these products would work on the unicorn mask.

Bill

 

[easyrider]

I don't understand the breathing through a straw analogy.

I had to quit diving because of medication but I often snorkel and occasionally dive to 50 ft. There is more exertion breathing through the snorkel than the dive tank.

Bill

 

[daventrina]

Yes, you can fly and then dive immediately, but you need to be fully decompressed after diving to fly. Flying is a low pressure event that can release nitrogen into the body. The same thing applies to crossing mountain passes.

Snorkeling is pretty much like standing on the land regarding pressure. No nitrogen builds up. There are other things that can get you when snorkeling.

Bill

Maybe go learn about ROPE

"Hypoxia induced by Rapid Onset Pulmonary Edema (ROPE) is the cause of some, probably most, snorkel related fatal and near fatal drownings. ROPE has not been associated with snorkeling in the past. This unravels the mystery of previously inexplicable snorkel-related drownings."

http://www.snorkelsafetystudy.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/SSS-Interim-Report_July2020-FINAL.pdf

 

[easyrider]

Maybe go learn about ROPE

"Hypoxia induced by Rapid Onset Pulmonary Edema (ROPE) is the cause of some, probably most, snorkel related fatal and near fatal drownings. ROPE has not been associated with snorkeling in the past. This unravels the mystery of previously inexplicable snorkel-related drownings."

http://www.snorkelsafetystudy.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/SSS-Interim-Report_July2020-FINAL.pdf

I never heard of this snorkel related pulmonary edema so thanks for the interesting link. It is interesting that they assert that recent prolonged air travel before snorkeling may be a contributing factor. If that is true, could it be that any prolonged exposure to high altitudes, like a mountain, being a factor ?

I wouldn't have associated snorkeling with hypoxia caused by pulmonary edema. In scuba, the rule is to acclimate for a couple of days before flying which is for of an entirely different reason than pulmonary edema. The associations for pulmonary edema I remember are lung infections and left ventricle heart failures. Never considered snorkeling.

Bill

 

[davidvel]

Maybe go learn about ROPE

"Hypoxia induced by Rapid Onset Pulmonary Edema (ROPE) is the cause of some, probably most, snorkel related fatal and near fatal drownings. ROPE has not been associated with snorkeling in the past. This unravels the mystery of previously inexplicable snorkel-related drownings."

http://www.snorkelsafetystudy.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/SSS-Interim-Report_July2020-FINAL.pdf

Maybe, but certainly don't do so by reading that "Study/Survey." There is nothing of scientific/clinical value in that pdf. Utter garbage. If a middle school student submitted that as a science experiment it might get a B.

 

[easyrider]

Maybe, but certainly don't do so by reading that "Study/Survey." There is nothing of scientific/clinical value in that pdf. Utter garbage. If a middle school student submitted that as a science experiment it might get a B.

I agree but it is interesting. It seems the older you are the more you should be aware of your limitations and how your equipment might kill you, lol. I doubt this happens with quality gear but if age and health is factored in I guess it could.

Never considered by me is how being in a high altitude changes a persons physiology in cardiovascular and respiration to the point of requiring acclimation to the lower altitude to snorkel. With scuba it is no high altitudes for a couple of days after diving to prevent decompression sickness from nitrogen molecule expansion in the blood and tissue.

Bill