Kindly rate your ability to equalize your air spaces.

[crispos]

moved up from later post so poll makes sense:I am trying to determine the prevalence of equalization problems in the diver community.

I had an OWD student this weekend, that could not equalize her ears while going down the line to 10 feet. She is quite frustrated. She is going to see the ENT doctor tomorrow.

We were interested to know what percentage of divers have problems equalizing, and how many actually could not make it down to the pool bottom initially.

This was supposed to be a poll, to get a percentage, not war stories, but I obviously have screwed it up. Second time I have tried to do a poll and it didn't work! Now I know how she feels...moderators, can you help me out? How about 5 cateogories...Never to Can't Dive?

 

[simbrooks]

Yes i still have some troubles, i had more when i first started. I hear (when i can after barotraumas ) that it is one of the more common problems for new divers - hoping it will eventually stop.

I had troubles getting down in the pool, but not as much as the lake - man that hurt the first time!

 

[Jetwrench]

My situation is kinda weird. At first, I had no trouble at all for the first two years.Then I took a trip to Bonaire last year and about day four I had trouble with my right ear and had to work at it to get it to equalize. This year I again went to Bonaire and the problem(same ear) was immediate on the first dive, but as the week went on it got better to the point I had no problem. Wax buildup? Maybe. I'll bet must divers have had trouble at some point in time. Some more than others.

 

[String]

When i first started although i wouldnt class it as problems i had to frequently equalise to get to the pool bottom and coming up, the squeeze nose and blow technique too.

First o/w dives similar, lots of frequent clearing needed. After a few weeks though it seems i needed to clear less and less and also less forcefully - if i need to clear at all now just waggling my jaw seems to do it.
I know of a few other people that experienced similar to this so im half suspecting its something you condition to (or damage ear to allow it!) over time. Maybe its a case of stretching rarely used tissues the first few times before they're pliable enough to dive.

Had my first in dive ear problem yesterday. Already on the bottom in roughly 18m of water when my left ear went and i had to rise a bit and fairly forcefully clear. Thereafter in the dive it needed clearing every few meters and very often on ascent. Problem vanished on the surface. No idea of the cause or why it waited until the dive was nearly over before starting. Its POSSIBLE my hood was too tight as i had dry hair after the mornings dive.

 

[crispos]

Nice pictures, String.

It would appear Eustachian tubes are finicky things.

 

[H2Andy]

extremely easy. i've even gone diving with headcolds and have not taken any
meds and have equalized ok.

i've only had one problem, and that was a reverse squeeze due to a partially fallen
filling.

 

[DandyDon]

Almost always have an easy time. Maybe it my vacation free diving experiences, or maybe just years of blowing my nose with hay fever - practice, practice, practice, stretch, stretch.

Seems to be a common problem to newbies that gets better with experience. Advance equalizing, even while still on the boat seems to help.

 

[H2Andy]

oh... i should add that i grew up skin diving in Cuba (had a mask, no snorkel), so
i have been equalizing since i was nine or ten on a regular basis. so yeah, Don
is right... practice practice.

 

[crispos]

Nice web site H2Andy...mucho gusto.

 

[Kim]

I didn't have problems equalizing - but did get a slight ear pain/infection while I was originally doing OW. Since then I never had a problem. My daughter and her husband did a Discover Scuba dive last year in Malaysia - he had huge problems and had to call the dive. The doctor told him afterwards that he had a lot of wax in his ears - probably the cause in my opinion. They are going to try again this year and I've told him to get his ears cleaned before they go - I hope it makes a difference for them!