Clearing ears easier in Saltwater?

[rostato]

Ok, I really feel stupid asking this question. But after a good 30 minutes of goolgeing, and searching these forums, I cannot find my answer.

I am a very new diver (only 8 dives after my cert) and until thursday I had never dove in Saltwater.

My buddy, and I decided to dive the GA aquarium, which was AWESOME by BTW. And the first thing I noticed was that my ears gave me ZERO trouble.

In the springs that I have dove in so far it would take a solid 2-3 minutes to get down to about 15-20 feet with loads of problems from my ears.

At the aquarium, we went off the dock, and immediatly went to the bottom at 20 feet to wait for the entire group to get comfortable and buoyant. It took me maybe 30 seconds to get down in a controlled manor, and I felt like I only had to clear my ears because of habit. Zero pain, and zero difficulty, it made the dive SOOO much more enjoyable.

I do not think this is just having a little experience, so what gives?

I also must say, this site has been impecable so far for my diving. I had a lot of problems with my ears during my cert, and without this site and all the info I found on ears, I would not be diving as comfortably as I have so far. So THANKS!

 

[JKPAO]

? Not really sure of your question but I will give it a try!? After several dives you will be more accustomed to equalization. That being said it could also be that you were more relaxed
See you topside! John

 

[rostato]

Honestly, it really doesn't make sense to me. I have always had problems, then nothing.

If anything, I was a little more nervous because of all the sharks hovering aorund us. Plus I was really working on buoyancy.

 

[fjpatrum]

Temperature? I have more problems the first 15 feet or so then I'm fine, but I noticed on my dive last week (much warmer water) that I had significantly less issues (also salt versus fresh) than with my cert dives.

 

[rostato]

Temp was 74, and my last few dives were 72. in the springs. I had to call one dive because I couldn't get my ears to clear in the FL springs a few weeks ago. So, the temp wasn't too big of a difference, but maybe that helped...

I just want someone to tell me that it is documented somewhere that its easier to clear ears in salt water, or I'm just crazy, and got lucky with a stress free dive.

I will be in Maui in two weeks, so I guess that is another test for me. Can't wait to dive with Shaka Doug!

 

[fisheater]

Much more likely to be a difference caused by temps and comfort level than by salinity. (Not to mention sinus clearness due to difference in allergies, mucous, etc.)

 

[PatW]

When I first started diving, I had a heck of a time clearing my ears. It involved stopping and rising and attempting to clear then a little clearance, descend a few meters and repeat. Then I learned a few tricks and my ears cleared pretty readily. At first, my ears pretty much cleared only when I held my neck a certain way, held my nose and blew. Over time, just a gentle pinch and blow does it. I think that with repetitions of ear clearing, the passages "loosen up" a mite and ear clearing becomes a pretty simple thing. A Dive Master I had on my open water course, said that practice and repetition went a long way in equalizing pressure and maybe he was right.

 

[rk288]

Equalize early and often on the way down is the comfort rule...you're probably just getting better at it

 

[knowone]

Go diving.
in less than thirty feet up and down all over the place
that will loosen you up.
Go diving.
in less than thirty feet up and down all over the place
that will loosen you up.
Go diving.
in less than thirty feet up and down all over the place
that will loosen you up.
Go diving.

 

[Akimbo]

Is it possible that your sinuses are less affected by some airborne allergens at one location over another? Can you notice any differance?