revy69
Guest
Hi - quick question - how far do you need to go down before your dont need to equalise? Or is it a case of - if you are diving to 30m you will need to equalise all the way down? I have only dived to about 10m so far. Thanks
Ears popping
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The greates pressure difference is in the upper sections of one atmosphere. Usually about 15 or 20 ft is the most difficult part of clearing your ears. For new divers it can take some getting use to. A doctor once told me I could also pinch my nose an swallow. It works. As you learn to clear your ears will acomadate to this exercise. Sometimes I will take a non-drowsy decongestante a few hours before diving to help keep the passages clear. You will know when to clear. Just keep your bouancy good and go slow till you get the hang of it. If you dive around kelp beds, take advantage of them to help you learn bouancy.
mech
Contributor
On a side note to this... every time you need to equalize your ears it might or might not be a bad idea to add a tad of air to your BC (depending on the situation or your goal).
That way you might not decend to fast or silt up the bottom.
YMMV.
That way you might not decend to fast or silt up the bottom.
YMMV.
Mrs Mares
Contributor
Not sure if it is just me , or if it happens with everone else, but I find that I only need to equalize for the first 10-12 metres, after that I don't have to bother.
Hope this helps.
Hope this helps.
This is coming from someone who is presently sitting out the next three weeks or so with a diving-induced ear injury--equalize every few feet, even if it doesn't 'feel' like it's necessary.
Regarding Mrs Mares' comment...I too normally don't have to equalize after about 40 feet, but I've only been to about 75.
Sean
Regarding Mrs Mares' comment...I too normally don't have to equalize after about 40 feet, but I've only been to about 75.
Sean
H2Andy
Contributor
revy69:
yes, you will need to equalize all the way down. if you
come up a little and then try to go back down, you will
need to equalize again.
"listen" to your ears. you will feel the pressure start to build.
equalize at once; dont' wait for discomfort to set in.
ideally, you should pre-equalize: equalize as you descend
even though you don't "feel" like you have to.
Any change in depth causes a change in pressure so you do equalize all the way down, and back up again. The equalizing on the way is usually pretty automatic so as a diver you don't have to do anything about it.
Now the rate of pressure change is greatist near the surface so you have to take more action and more often when you first start down.
There are lots of variables and some people equalize automatically without effort. Most of us need to take action at least some of the time. When I dive in a commercial helmet I can usually equalize with just a jaw wiggle.
Have you seen the online ear video?
Take a look at;
http://faculty.washington.edu/ekay/index.html
Now the rate of pressure change is greatist near the surface so you have to take more action and more often when you first start down.
There are lots of variables and some people equalize automatically without effort. Most of us need to take action at least some of the time. When I dive in a commercial helmet I can usually equalize with just a jaw wiggle.
Have you seen the online ear video?
Take a look at;
http://faculty.washington.edu/ekay/index.html
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