Trouble equalizing some times but not others? One ear but not the other?

[vladimir]

There are two things you should do before every dive. 1. Drink a bottle of water and 2. Eat a Banana. The hydration is critically important for a number of reasons and the banana provides potassium which greatly decreases the likelihood of cramping (legs/calves etc...)

The likelihood of cramping due to lack of potassium is practically nil in a healthy person with a normal diet, so a banana is not necessary, nor will it greatly decrease that likelihood. The way to avoid cramps is to avoid working your muscles to extreme fatigue. Fitness, stretching, adequate rest, and proper nourishment (bananas optional) can all help:

http://www.divefitness.com/html/articles/article_pdfs/EAMC.pdf

 

[RonFrank]

Try standing on your head while drinking prune juice!

Seriously, hydration has nothing to do with clearing ears.

Eating a banana will only help if you are not allergic to bananas. Your Captain and Divemaster may not like you bringing bananas on the boat... seriously. :cool2:

I tell people to clear often, as in NOW. Work those tubes on a regular basis even when not diving. Clear every day dive or no.

Dive Safe!

 

[vladimir]

Seriously, hydration has nothing to do with clearing ears.

I agree, with one small caveat: if you use the Toynbee maneuver (pinch nose and swallow), you need to swallow, which can be difficult if your mouth is very dry and you are swallowing every two feet.

 

[DivemasterDennis]

Let me add a quick note on other little things that may help clearing: breathe out through you nose one or twice; swallow; while horizontal in the water, roll you head from side to side; wiggle your lower jaw from side to side. As so many others have said, clear early, clear often, but don't obsess. The "pre-descent" clearing is one of the best tips I've gotten here on scuba board.
DivemasterDennis

 

[gluehuffer]

For me, equalizing got easier with experience but every now and then I do have problems equalizing where it takes a few tries. Usually it's my left ear that is the problem. So to answer your question, yea it can happen. If it is a common occurrence for you and practice doesn't help, you may want to have a physician take a look and see if there are issues that might might make it difficult for you to equalize.