Ear clearing no problem?

[Ceberon]

I've been wondering for awhile now. How normal is it to be able to equalize simply by moving my jaw about 1/3 of the way open? I just flex my jaw slightly, I equalize, no problems. I can actually sit with my mouth 1/3 open and leave it open as I descend, it just equalizes automatically for me. Once I had a slight cold and my ears squeaked when I cleared them (took a few jaw attempts before it squeaked), but otherwise I've never had the tiniest problem. I actually have never cleared my ears using the nose pinch method, never had the need.

Anyway, how normal is this? Is it something that can be learned by other people, or when I'm an instructor eventually am I just going to have to teach everyone the nose pinch? I assume it has to do with the size of the Eustachian tube.. does that mean my "tube" is larger than normal?

 

[JHAM]

If you clear that easilly, I wouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth.

I've gotten better over the years at clearing, but sometimes have difficulty. When this happens I may have to ry several methods before my ears equalize. This may include nose grabbing, tilting head toward the offending ear, biting on the regulator mouth piece (it works but cant imagine it's good for the mouth piece). With my experience, I alway find some way of clearing.

During my check out dives, I had trouble clearing an ear and accidentally submerged too far while still trying to clear (inexperience will get you every time). Ended getting a bad ear squeeze and had to get treated for an ear infection. That is painful, and I learned a big lesson in avoiding this on subsequesnt dives.

Like I said, just count your blessing that you found a method that works well for you and you'll hopefully never experience an ear squeeze.