hood equalizing

[blueocean]

I've heard that it is hard sometimes to equalize through a hood. Is this true? I'm probably going to be purchasing one soon for a deep diving class I'm taking. I've noticed some people put a little hole in the hood over each ear, does that help?

 

[Scubaroo]

Punching a hole over each ear (with either a soldering iron or a metal punch) certainly helps - it allows water to enter the outer ear. Otherwise you can get a squeeze in the outer ear as you descend, as the trapped air beneath the hood compresses and tries to suck the hood into your ear! (not really, but it's uncomfortable). Not as bad as an inner ear squeeze, but still something to avoid.

An additional hole or two in the top of the hood also prevents air getting trapped there when air escapes from your mask (eg. clearing it, overcompensating for mask squeeze, or when the air in the mask expands on ascent). Without this top hole, an air pocket can form on top of your head under the hood, which is just plain annoying, and you are forever pushing on your hood to try and clear it. You're going to get wet anyway, these holes will make no difference (unless you punch them in a diving helmet!)

Best not to punch the holes while still wearing the hood Put the hood on, and using a piece of chalk, pretend to clean the wax out of your ears. Take the hood off and THEN punch the holes in it.

 

[Scubadent]

Blueocean:
Most of my diving is done in cold water with a hood, and I have never had any problem with equalizing. The biggest problem that I have found is exactly what Bengiddins mentionned. Hood ballooning due to air being trapped under the hood. It is just a nuisance. A well placed hole can do the trick to eliminate this problem or you can buy hoods with "vents" already in them. Henderson makes all their cold water hoods with what they call Flowvents to prevent this from happening. Happy diving!

 

[Dee]

I put holes over each ear so I could hear better!

 

[Scottri]

I usually wear a hood when I dive and have no problems equalizing. I do punch a small hole in the very top of the hood just to let air out.


Scott

 

[divernva]

I have the same problem with air being trapped in the hood. Punching a hole sounds like a good idea. Any problems with cold water entering or warm water escaping the hood after punching the hole at the top? Would a "cluster" of pin holes work?

 

[large_diver]

Since wet suit hoods aren't water proof...it's not like a pin hole is going to affect the water flow much.

The "typical" practive for punching holes in neoprene is to use a hot nail so that the edges of the hole are melted, preventing further neprene tearing.

Regarding multiple holes -- I think it may be trial and error. THe first time I did this, I think the hole was either too small or not placed correctly. I made a second hole and that did the trick.