This is a very common thing. What has been posted is true. It should take of itself in time, unless you are talking a major amount of blood. Another way too equalize without squeezing the nose is too pretend you are chewing gum, or even just a simple mask clearing move will usually do the trick, even if your mask is clear. If you continually pretend as if you are chewing gum while descending you shouldn't have any problems with equalizing your ears, and yes, sometimes you need too equalize your mask.(simply breath out your nose) But the shark thing, unless your talking about Lemon sharks, I'd definately stay out of the water. You've seen JAWS haven't you? Ferocious Man Eaters they are, Ferocious I tell you!!! Just kidding, the whole man eater thing is such a crock of $h!t. Unless you are a hunter and have a stringer of fish with you, you may have some issues. I volunteer for the Oregon Coast Aquarium and dive in the shark tank quite often, and from my observation they are a lot like a junk yard dog, in that they feed on fear. When we put new divers that are a little nervous and have an accelerated heart rate the sharks seem too be a little more curious and come a bit closer in numbers, rather than just seem too cruise around by themselves. So, if you do see a shark, stay calm and enjoy the show. If you need too go,(LOA or something) move slow and keep your cool. Dive safe, have fun, and give that nose a little time too become a divers nose.
Joe
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