How to Equalize Your Ears While Scuba Diving

Equalization while diving is extremely important. As you dive, the pressure of the water around you will increase, causing the air pressure in small cavities such as in your inner ear to decrease. If you don't equalize, it can cause severe discomfort and you risk permanently damaging the ear drum.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Decide on a technique that works for you. There are several ways to actually clear your ears while on a dive. Common techniques include pinching your nostrils while gently blowing your nose; swallowing; pinching your nose and swallowing; wiggling your jaw from side to side; Understanding what techniques works best for you, before you go out on a dive is key.

2. Start to equalize while you are still on the surface of the water. Pressurizing before you go down will make for an easier descent.

3. Descend feet first. Head first descents can make it even more difficult to equalize while diving.

4. Equalize your every few feet, before you feel any discomfort. The further you descend, the greater the increase of outside pressure, making it that much harder to equalize. When diving it is much easier to equalize when you don't need to.

5. Ascend a few feet if you are having ear discomfort and are having trouble equalizing. If after ascending, you are still not able to equalize, abort the dive. Never force equalization as you risk damaging your ear drum.

Tips & Warnings

• Never dive when you are congested. Equalization is extremely difficult when you are congested. Do not assume that by taking decongestants, you can still dive. If the medication wears off while you are on your dive, you could run into reverse ear squeeze problems when you are trying to ascend.

[harveystreasure]

on 10/5/2008 Enjoyed the refresher on ear equalization. I am an avid scuba diver myself.