Ear Problems

[RyanCY]

Hi Stephanie.

I have just finished my openwater cert. When we were doing our pool sessions some of us (including DM's and our Instructor) had difficulty equalising, even at a depth of 2m (+-6 feet). The best reason that we could come up with was that the pool water contained chlorine, which is an allergen. This makes equalising in a pool much harder than equalising in the sea or a freshwater lake/pond. I find that sea air and water has a positive effect on my sinuses, and when I did my first sea dives down to 13 metres (+- 40 feet) I had little difficulty equalising.

So it is quite possible that this problem will not persist when you get to your first open water dive.

Hope you come right,
Ryan.

 

[SKBRDVR1]

Ryan...I don't want to sound like some type of intellectual egghead but you're little off in your explanation. Pools don't contain chlorine. Chlorine is a gas that will partially absorb in the water. The correct term for what's in the water is a hypochlorite..which is formed with several other ingredients. chlorine gas is an extremely dangerous gas and was used in WWI & WWII as a chemical agent. If you go into a pool where your eyes "burn" you need the check the pool manager's credentials. Chances are they are "overkilling" their chemicals and releasing free chlorine.

 

[Lisa0825]

Along the same lines as Ryan's situation, could highly alkaline water have different effects on eqaulization than other types of water? Just curious since I had major problems equalizing in a highly alkaline quarry in which nothing would live or grow, but had no problems eqaulizing in pool or salt water.

 

[Stephanie_L]

Not to Hi-Jack a thread, but do you find it more difficult to clear your ears when the water temps are low?

No.

 

[Stephanie_L]

Hi all, thank you so much of your advice! I've been practicing. I also ordered some neat little plugs, they have holes in them and they don't let the water in but will let air out. My last pool dive is tomorrow (tuesday). Wish me luck. When I do the "pinch and blow" method it feels like my eardrums are being pushed out. It doesn't hurt. Is that what it should feel like.

 

[PaulChristenson]

You might want to try a pair of Doc's Proplugs. They keep the water away from you eardrum and out of your canal and it's easier to clear with them in.

Well actually...

Upon descent, Proplugs prevent water from entering the ear down to 20 feet in depth. Once the diver enters greater depths, water will be allowed into the ear for equalization. Unlike other earplugs, ours includes a Scott’s valve which allows ears to equalize easily and let sound in. Our proplugs have been used by hundreds of divers for over thirty years who testify that proplugs are the earplugs for divers.

http://www.proplugs.com/scubadiving.shtml

Paul in VT

 

[Ber Rabbit]

When I do the "pinch and blow" method it feels like my eardrums are being pushed out. It doesn't hurt. Is that what it should feel like.

Yes, that is what it should feel like; no pain just a bit of sensation as your eardrum flexes from the air entering the middle ear. Sometimes you'll hear squeaking noises or a soft pssst as the air passes into your middle ear and that too is normal as long is there isn't any pain.
Sounds like you're doing just fine.
Ber :lilbunny:

 

[Mikebubbles]

Personally I would not use ear plugs, instead using a product like swim ear after a dive can help to avoid infections.
The equalising problem is to do with your sinuses.
I have found that avoiding mucas forming foods such as dairy products and oranges for two days prior to the dive does help as it will keep those sinuses clean.
Plus smoking and alcohol can aggravate the mucas mebranes, not good.

As many before has said consult an ENT specilist and equalise early and often and try the different techniques and mix them up.

Good Luke

 

[grf88]

This informative video has been helpful to some people I know.
http://www.uwtv.org/programs/displayevent.asp?rid=789

 

[tjmills]

You must clear often and early. A lot of times you don't realize how many times you need to clear your ears in that first 40 feet. You also don't realize how fast you are dropping. If you feel pain, you are too deep to clear them. Go back up and swallow or blow gently. When you do clear them while you have pain, you are stressing out your ears and doing this multiple times can lead to infection, brusing your inner ear, ect. Not Good! Ever come out and feel like the ocean is in your ears??

I will also tell you that I didn't believe the hype on the Doc's Pro Plugs but I finally found them for $9 so I went ahead and got fitted for them at the shop in Key Largo a couple weeks ago while we were down there. All the local shops here in Colorado have them too so I am sure someone in your area does also. I never believed thay would actually work but they did help alot. Easier to clear and equalize because they help hold your ear tube open. I didn't have that slushy feeling/sound in my head after multiple dives. They do actually help alot.