How do you know when to equalize?

[k374]

Yes, the obvious answer is equalize often when descending...that makes sense EXCEPT that when I was on my dives past weekend sometimes I had no idea if I was going down or up, it was not obvious until I saw my guage or felt pressure in my ears. As strange as it may seem I felt I was swimming parallel to the ocean floor and check my depth, it's 35ft and then in a few minutes I'm still parallel but now the depth is 45ft and I am feeling pressure.

I know I must equalize before I feel pressure. Do you constantly monitor your guage to check your depth?

I guess these are odd questions since I'm assuming that most of you guys equalize easily, but for those of us who have severe equalization problems it can be really frustrating.

 

[Gombessa]

For me, pretty much all the time.

I equalize a few times on the surface to make sure my sinus passages are clear. Then as soon as I descend I'm equalizing once every few seconds the second my head goes underwater. Once reaching depth, I lightly equalize once every few minutes, especially if I know I'm descending. At depth it becomes easier to equalize, and often I just "test equalize" even if I'm at the same depth as last time.

I'm always checking my depth (I have a wrist-mount bottom timer so it's easy to look without having to reach for a console every time) but even so, I just equalize often enough where it probably wouldn't matter.

Not an odd question as well. If you know you have trouble, just do it more frequently

 

[Teamcasa]

Yes, the obvious answer is equalize often when descending...that makes sense EXCEPT that when I was on my dives past weekend sometimes I had no idea if I was going down or up, it was not obvious until I saw my guage or felt pressure in my ears. As strange as it may seem I felt I was swimming parallel to the ocean floor and check my depth, it's 35ft and then in a few minutes I'm still parallel but now the depth is 45ft and I am feeling pressure.

I know I must equalize before I feel pressure. Do you constantly monitor your guage to check your depth?

I guess these are odd questions since I'm assuming that most of you guys equalize easily, but for those of us who have severe equalization problems it can be really frustrating.

You should equalize whenever you feel pressure, going up and going down.
I don't monitor my gauge, I just equalize if I feel any sort of pressure. You simply can't do it too often.

 

[Walter]

How do you know when to equalize?

I think you've come close to answering it for yourself.

Yes, the obvious answer is equalize often when descending

Often when you're shallow, not as often as you get deeper.

...that makes sense EXCEPT that when I was on my dives past weekend sometimes I had no idea if I was going down or up, it was not obvious until I saw my guage or felt pressure in my ears. As strange as it may seem I felt I was swimming parallel to the ocean floor and check my depth, it's 35ft and then in a few minutes I'm still parallel but now the depth is 45ft and I am feeling pressure.

When you're fairly deep, you won't need to equalize often or sometimes at all. When the change in pressure is gradual, your ears will equalize on their own. When the barometer changes, you will rarely have to consciously equalize. Your ears equalize automatically. When descending, the change is not gradual enough for our ears to automatically equalize, but swimming along what appears to be a level bottom that is actually descending, often the change is gradual and we need take no conscious move to equalize. This is especially true when you are deep because the % change of pressure for a 5 ft change in depth is less the deeper you are.

I know I must equalize before I feel pressure. Do you constantly monitor your guage to check your depth?

I don't.

I guess these are odd questions since I'm assuming that most of you guys equalize easily, but for those of us who have severe equalization problems it can be really frustrating.

Lots of folks have equalization issues.

 

[Sinbad the Diver]

You may be like me, someone who doesn't have to think about equalizing very often, it just happens most of the time. I am able to extend my jaw or swallow and boom...done. If you are able to do that you are often equalizing but don't know it because you don't get the preasure buildup to a point of discomfort.

 

[ligersandtions]

Walter made a very good point. On your initial descent, your pressure change is going to be very large (from the surface to 33fsw, you've doubled the pressure). Since the pressure change is large, you'll have to equalize your ears quite often. From 33fsw to 99fsw, your pressure changes again, so you likely will need to equalize as much in those 66 feet as you did in the first 33 feet.

When you're swimming along a sloping bottom, you probably will not be changing pressure enough that you have to actively think about equalizing - your ears will probably do it for you.

I equalize every few feet on my initial descent (and start prior to getting in the water) and then every couple minutes afterwards as needed. You will start to get to know your ears and how they're going to react. Honestly, the fact that you have some issues with your ears may be an asset to you in the future....you will notice any small pressure changes and will be able to adjust your buoyancy to compensate for the fact that you are ascending or descending when you don't mean to be.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

One thing that helps people who have difficulty equalizing ... perform your first equalization on the surface, just before you begin your descent. Get those tissues "warmed up" before you need to use them for real. I find it often alleviates difficulties once you begin the descent.

For students who exhibit equilization difficulties, I suggest that you "practice" on land ... when you are not diving. Remember, you are using muscles you rarely use outside of scuba diving. They aren't any different than muscles in any other part of your body ... the more you use them the easier it gets.

On the descent, equalize as soon as your head gets below the surface. Then again as soon as you begin to feel pressure .. DON'T WAIT TILL IT HURTS ... the more pressure you have to equalize, the harder it is. So do it early and often.

During the dive, or on the ascent ... if you have to equalize your BCD, equalize your ears too. When adding air to the BCD, do a quick valsalva. When venting air, it's usually enough to just wiggle your jaw a little to give the pressurized air in your eustasian tubes a chance to vent.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[k374]

Does anyone have opinions about vented Doc's pro plugs? I am planning to give them a try.

 

[sabbath999]

I have an opinion on ear plugs while diving... no way will I EVER consider adding a failure point in my ears.

Honestly, the benefits are FAR outweighed by the potential problems they can bring up.

 

[TSandM]

I am frequently lazy, and don't equalize until I feel pressure -- but I can equalize quite easily. On the days when I've had a little congestion or have otherwise been concerned that my ears aren't going to be cooperative, I pre-pressurize them on the surface, and try to Frenzel the minute the feeling of pressure is gone on descent. It takes much closer attention to what your ears are trying to tell you.