BigFame
Contributor
i am glad to have found this thread. Had my first day of OW dives today and had the exact same issue. Had some struggles to get to 35 feet for first dive but got there. Was trying valsalva to no avail then added a swallow but with dry air was having some issues actually swallowing. Anyway got down 35 feet for first dive but with some discomfort and some ascending and redescending. THen second dive had issues at 20 feet, couldn't get my left ear to equalize and whenever I would plug nose to try and get it my mask would instantly flood, dealing with a little pain in my ear, a leaking mask, and the 50 degree water was enough that after clearing my mask for like the 5th time the instructor asked if I wanted to surface and I said yes. When we got up topside to talk about it I spit and there was a little blood in my spit so he said I was done for the day. Been very upset about the issue all day and I am a bit happy to see I am not the only one to have this issue (specifically having equalized once and then not on the next dive). Since I haven't corrected my issue I can't give much in the way of advice, but I would link you to THIS which I found to be helpful in terms of understanding what it is I am trying to do with my ears, and I hope to have more success in the water tomorrow. Good luck to your son.