Clear early, clear often!
If you feel pressure, you've waited to long.
If you feel pressure, you've waited to long.
Clearing the Ears - Learned Skill or Roadblock?
- Thread starter rhkaloge
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Somebody had to be the slowest to descend. It just happened to be you this time. And you aren't unusual because there is one in almost every class who has difficulty clearing to one degree or another. So relax and enjoy. There is a lot of diving out there for you. Just take it easy for a while. It will work.
don Francisco
Contributor
Don't sweat it, this will get better. You're already way ahead of the curve. You're able to resist the temptation to keep up with others, so you're not likely to injure your ears. Everyone clears their ears at different rates, and most divers have better and worse days for a variety of reasons or seemingly for no reason.
As long as you keep protecting your ears by managing your descent you'll probably improve with experience as you refine you techniques for clearing.
BTW- as a frame or reference, at over 500 dives my descent/clearing rate can be as fast as 90 feet per minute, but on bad days has varied to as little as 2 fpm, that's 30 minutes to join the others at 60 fsw.
As long as you keep protecting your ears by managing your descent you'll probably improve with experience as you refine you techniques for clearing.
BTW- as a frame or reference, at over 500 dives my descent/clearing rate can be as fast as 90 feet per minute, but on bad days has varied to as little as 2 fpm, that's 30 minutes to join the others at 60 fsw.
Part of it is a learned skill. As the video shows there are many options. Learning to control that pressure to just bring on the equalization does take practice.
Meanwhile there is a physical conditioning component going on. Your tubes will become more patent and responsive to your growing skill. Equalize daily when not diving. On dive day do it (once) on the way to the site, when you arrive, when you get geared up, when you get in the water and right before going under. On the way down do it between each breath. Over time you may naturally back off from this but early and frequently are the keys.
The biggest trick is getting down through the shallows where the % change per foot is the greatest. As you dive deeper the process slows and you have more time to patiently deal with it or natural flow may even do it.
If none of this is working then by all means see a doctor. It's highly unlikely that this needs to be a barrier to diving. However if you do not take care of yourself there is a lot to loose.
Pete
Meanwhile there is a physical conditioning component going on. Your tubes will become more patent and responsive to your growing skill. Equalize daily when not diving. On dive day do it (once) on the way to the site, when you arrive, when you get geared up, when you get in the water and right before going under. On the way down do it between each breath. Over time you may naturally back off from this but early and frequently are the keys.
The biggest trick is getting down through the shallows where the % change per foot is the greatest. As you dive deeper the process slows and you have more time to patiently deal with it or natural flow may even do it.
If none of this is working then by all means see a doctor. It's highly unlikely that this needs to be a barrier to diving. However if you do not take care of yourself there is a lot to loose.
Pete
Sinbad the Diver
Contributor
Had a nasty cold set in the last night of my pool training, that was miserable. I was very concerned going forward so I did some reading.
First thing I did was bought a Neti-pot and now do a daily saline sinus rinse, second thing I did was buy 12 hour decongestant and pop one the the morning I dive. Haven't had a problem since. Matter of fact, I rarely have to do a pinch and blow, I'm able to stay equalized primarily through flexing my neck muscles (trick I learned as a business traveler).
Now, there is a lot of disagreement about the Neti-pot approach and whether it has any real value, and all I can offer is my experience. Not only did I have no issues with equalizing, but I have not had a head cold since I started doing it in Dec. Is it a cause and effect relationship....who knows, but in a normal year I would have 2 or 3 colds over that time and I can't remember the last year I didn't have any.
First thing I did was bought a Neti-pot and now do a daily saline sinus rinse, second thing I did was buy 12 hour decongestant and pop one the the morning I dive. Haven't had a problem since. Matter of fact, I rarely have to do a pinch and blow, I'm able to stay equalized primarily through flexing my neck muscles (trick I learned as a business traveler).
Now, there is a lot of disagreement about the Neti-pot approach and whether it has any real value, and all I can offer is my experience. Not only did I have no issues with equalizing, but I have not had a head cold since I started doing it in Dec. Is it a cause and effect relationship....who knows, but in a normal year I would have 2 or 3 colds over that time and I can't remember the last year I didn't have any.
CamG
Contributor
Welcome to SB rhkaloge! You are on the right track, asking questions and gathering information. In my experience, I to had ear issues when I began diving. First things first find a good ENT if you have not already. What he can do for you will greatly improve your diving. As a medical professional he can taylor a program "medications, sinus rinse, diet, etc." that will help your ears and not hurt your diving! All divers at one time or another struggle with ear issues, it was just so simple for me once I had the right information. Since then I have tried other remedies but to be real honest it just gets easier the more you dive. There is little difference diving to 100' or 30', in terms of equalization always early and often, before pain starts. If you can't equalize DO NOT DIVE!!! Only bad things happen when you force it, trust me on this one. This is a easy situation to deal with diving is so incredible take the extra time to be safe and sure. It will allow you to enjoy it all the more. Good luck and keep us posted on your progress. CamG Keep diving....keep training....keep learning!
Papa_Bear
Contributor
The biggest change for your ears is the first 10' to 15' and that is where you need to slow down and clear a lot from the time your standing on the beach, Boat, or swim platform! Then descend slowly with your head up to stretch your neck and open your tubs, once you get past that first 15' it will get easier and the pressure changes will not be as great! After 40' or so you can swallow and relax and you will clear with less effort! After a few hundred dives it will be second nature! As a long time diver I often forget to clear in that "Golden Zone" and after a week or two the old ears are toasted! So even the "Old Pros" have to stop and take precautions or pay the price!
theITdiver
Contributor
I had ear problems as well. in the pool I was usually slow to equalize, then when I did my checkouts, i was also slow to equalize. the problem with this came when I hit the surface between dives. I would get a reverse squeeze which was not fun. i called DAN and they gave me a recommendation for a local Dr who dealt with dive medicine and he sent me to an ENT. The ENT gave me an Rx. He told me I have deviated septum which explained why one ear equalized faster than the other, and the Rx nasal sprat (Nasocort AQ) also helped with allergies which were causing increased blockage behind the narrowed passage form the deviated septum. so if this persists, find an ENT (Call DAN, you don't even have to be a member for their referral services) and get it checked out.
redrover
Guest
Unfortunately? I didn’t have a problem. Perhaps the best tip (for me anyway) was to exercise your ears prior to the dive.
This is a spectacular video! Being completely new, I have had issues with the "Ear Fear" and equalizing my left ear. After watching this video, I was able to practice and get it down.
Thank you!
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