Popping ears

[linz69]

I've just finished my OW cert.

Whist desceding in the open water dives i kept making my ears pop whilst i was equalizing. I was just wondering if this is normal or whether i was blowing too hard.

 

[Buccaneer]

I've just finished my OW cert.

Whist desceding in the open water dives i kept making my ears pop whilst i was equalizing. I was just wondering if this is normal or whether i was blowing too hard.

"Equalizing"means popping your ears. As long as you aren't experiencing discomfort or pain, you are doing it right. Remember, you are forcing air into the ear stachon tubes, so you will get that popping sensation as you fill the air space behind your ear drum. As long as you aren't forcing the air too hard you won't damage the drum. The pop occurs as that space is filled and excess pressure is forced past the drum.

 

[pipedope]

I always send people with ear questions to one place;

Go to;
http://faculty.washington.edu/ekay/index.html
and watch the video. It will help your understanding of what is going on and what to do.

"The Diver's Ear - Under Pressure"

Scuba diving and snorkeling can be fun ways to explore the depths - especially if you can clear your ears as the pressure changes. In this video lecture Dr. Edmond Kay discusses techniques for preventing middle ear barotrauma. Learn what to do to equalize pressure in your ears, teach others proper techniques and learn the safest way to prevent "ear squeeze". This talk was recorded live in September, 2000 and is now available for Internet viewing over the University's video portal .

 

[Scubakevdm]

Hey! Congratulations! Which agency did you choose?

 

[linz69]

Thankyou all for putting my mind at rest.

 

[linz69]

Thanks scubakevdm. I did the course with padi - in a freezing cold lake in England!

 

[lamont]

if you're not equalizing soon enough and your ears are starting to feel a lot of pressure and then you equalize witha valsalva that causes your ears to really pop hard that isn't good. you're probably going to cause some barotrauma that way. you want to be popping your ears about as hard as you'd pop them descending in an airplane. you should be trying to aggressively equalize before you feel pressure and that includes doing a valsalva on the surface to get some positive pressure in there before you even start to descend.

 

[HockeyPuck]

Pipedope - thanks for the video link. I watched it before diving this past weekend, and it seemed like I had an easier time equalizing.

 

[pipedope]

with more practice.

Glad to help.