Over Equalize

[underwaterdan]

Hi everyone - A little history, my wife and I are somewhat new to diving - while I seem to be taking to it okay and learning slowly, my wife is having a problem equalizing. She was fine during certification but now seems to be in my opinion over equalizing. In addition when she does this it fogs her mask, which adds to her already stressing situation. Does anyone have any advice, for both equalizing and keeping her mask fog free while doing it?
Thanks!

 

[Daner]

It's hard to give advice for your wife without knowing details and possible reasons why. I can give you some though, be patient and tell your wife that you don't mind waiting for her to equalize. My wife has difficulties equalizing and it often takes 10-12 minutes to decend to 35-40 feet. I think sometimes she worries that she is ruining my dive and it makes things worse so I tell her to take her time and not to worry about me. I have noticed that it is worse during the first dive of the day, or if she hasn't dived in a while. Second dives or dives on consecutive days on a vacation she is fine. I think it is just nerves. Just go slow and keep trying. It will get better.

 

[J.R.]

It's hard to give advice for your wife without knowing details and possible reasons why. I can give you some though, be patient and tell your wife that you don't mind waiting for her to equalize. My wife has difficulties equalizing and it often takes 10-12 minutes to decend to 35-40 feet. I think sometimes she worries that she is ruining my dive and it makes things worse so I tell her to take her time and not to worry about me. I have noticed that it is worse during the first dive of the day, or if she hasn't dived in a while. Second dives or dives on consecutive days on a vacation she is fine. I think it is just nerves. Just go slow and keep trying. It will get better.

Wow... I think our wives are related!!! Exact same situation... exact same solution.

 

[Steve50]

Some things that might help

If not already - feet first descent at least at the beginning.

While pinching nose and gently blow, swallow.

Clear with every breathe at the beginning of the descent.

If the mask is fogging she is probably continueing to exhale through the nose while not pinching.

 

[Papa Steve]

Wow... I think our wives are related!!! Exact same situation... exact same solution.

They must be triplets. We are brand new and she is having the same issue. Your sound advice is a great reminder.
My wife has a secondary issue that may be related to equalizing. It takes weeks for the water to get out of her ear. We've tried the ear beer, swimmers ear, etc. I read in another post that she may be over-equalizing, causing negative pressure and sucking water in. I think that's a real possibility. We're going out this weekend and are going to "test" it out. Any other thoughts on helping her get the water out of her ear would be appreciated. If it's still a problem after this weekend she's heading to the physician.
Papa Steve

 

[vladimir]

Check out the video that pipedope links to in the second post:

http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=149058&highlight=equalizing+video

 

[jviehe]

Hi everyone - A little history, my wife and I are somewhat new to diving - while I seem to be taking to it okay and learning slowly, my wife is having a problem equalizing. She was fine during certification but now seems to be in my opinion over equalizing. In addition when she does this it fogs her mask, which adds to her already stressing situation. Does anyone have any advice, for both equalizing and keeping her mask fog free while doing it?
Thanks!

Distract her. This is common from newer divers as they are simply trying to do what they are taught. The reality is you dont have to equalize as often as you would think, or as forcefully as you would think. Ive made students do other things, and then they equalize without thinking about it. With time, it will become automatic and easy. The best solution is to get more experience. BUT, this doesnt mean she should ignore pressure or pain. Basically she has to figure out her own style, and thats best done by diving more.

 

[RonFrank]

It takes weeks for the water to get out of her ear. We've tried the ear beer, swimmers ear, etc. I read in another post that she may be over-equalizing, causing negative pressure and sucking water in. I think that's a real possibility. We're going out this weekend and are going to "test" it out. Any other thoughts on helping her get the water out of her ear would be appreciated. If it's still a problem after this weekend she's heading to the physician.
Papa Steve

If it feels like she has water in her ear for *weeks* than she is likely doing damage to her middle ear.

I would suggest heading for a physician NOW before she does real damage.

You can over equalize. From my understanding, you can damage your ear(s), but not because you suck water into them, but because you are putting too much pressure on them.

Equalizing should be gentle, and you should be able to do it on the surface. I do it changing altitudes where we live, in elevators, and I often do it just to keep my ears limber for lack of a better term.

The way I do it is to pinch my nose, and blow gently. Each ear will *clear*. If you blow to hard, it hurts. Do NOT do that! :11: I can often clear just wiggling my jaw, or yawning.

 

[Cheekymonkey]

if water in her ear is problematic there are earplugs created specifically for scuba divers that allow one to continue to equalize, but please don't try normal ear plugs. I beleive the company that produces the scuba safe ones is called Doc's ProPlugs

 

[TSandM]

Almost all of the time, a persistent feeling of "water in the ear" is actually fluid in the MIDDLE ear, not the external auditory canal. This is due to UNDERequalizing -- allowing the negative pressure in the middle ear to reach a point where it draws fluid out of the surrounding tissue.

As stated above, Dr. Kay's VIDEO is an excellent educational tool on this subject.