Want to get certified, but worried about ears

[Bob DBF]

(5) Somehow the eustachian tubes have a memory for how to equalize. It just gets easier as you do it. Then, when I haven't been diving in a few months, and go back, I have difficulty during the first couple of dives, and less difficulty later. But the difficulty is nothing that prevents diving, it just means I take longer to descend. And that's okay.

Thats natures way of telling you that you have to dive more often Matt.



Bob
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I may be old, but I’m not dead yet.

 

[FPDocMatt]

Thats natures way of telling you that you have to dive more often Matt.

I wholeheartedly agree.

But I've got it worked out that I'll be able to fly to the Caribbean about every 2 months. That's pretty good, actually.

I thought it would be a hard sell with my banker (read "wife") but she seems to want to support my interest in diving. Heretofore I didn't have any interests beyond chess and piano. In fact, the whole family is looking on my child-like enthusiasm with a certain amusement.

 

[dallaskincaid]

I wholeheartedly agree.

But I've got it worked out that I'll be able to fly to the Caribbean about every 2 months. That's pretty good, actually.

I thought it would be a hard sell with my banker (read "wife") but she seems to want to support my interest in diving. Heretofore I didn't have any interests beyond chess and piano. In fact, the whole family is looking on my child-like enthusiasm with a certain amusement.

Matt, I'm in Frederick. If you ever need a dive buddy, let me know!

 

[freewillie]

I wholeheartedly agree.

But I've got it worked out that I'll be able to fly to the Caribbean about every 2 months. That's pretty good, actually.

I thought it would be a hard sell with my banker (read "wife") but she seems to want to support my interest in diving. Heretofore I didn't have any interests beyond chess and piano. In fact, the whole family is looking on my child-like enthusiasm with a certain amusement.

Good to see you back on Scubaboard.

 

[p1p]

I have to equalize every 3-5 feet, but my ears are fine.

 

[Divegurl]

When I learned to dive at the resort back in 1999 I of course did my pool training then the shore dive which all went well. I thought I was great! Then came time for the two longer ocean dives. After finally getting the courage to actually jump off the boat, which was so scary, I eventually made my way over to the rest of the group who were patiently waiting in the water. I was so nervous going down that I had to hold on to my instructer for dear life instead of equalizing my ears enough. I had to stop several times on the way down to 65 feet to try and equalize. The pain was awful! The dive itself went well and It was so amazing down there that I never wanted to surface again, but of course we had to and when we surfaced, after I had completed the balance of my test, the instructor told me to take my mask off and rinse it before I got back on the boat (it was full of blood) It was suggested that I not complete the 2nd dive but I really wanted to complete my course so against all advise I went down again. This time it was so much easier to equalize and I had a great time. However, afterwards I had muffled hearing for over 6 months.
I am just now starting to get back into diving and I have realized that the fast training they give you down south just isn't enough to make you super comfortable with all the procedures you have to do to certify. It is very stressful! I found that by practicing the things that make me uneasy many many times prior to actually having to do it gives me the confidence and skill to do it when I have to.
My advice is to practice equalizing until it becomes a habit, then when you start your dive course, it will be second nature to you....Good Luck

---------- Post added October 19th, 2015 at 11:02 PM ----------

And I am in Toronto! Looking for Dive Buddies!