mechnohonu
New
Hi everyone -
I am one dive away from my PADI open water cert due to a persistent ear equalization issue that has caused me to have to abort many dives. I know there's a lot of advice on this forum already about equalization issues and I've looked at and tried everything I can find, but to no avail. I was hoping to get some help.
Over a year ago I had two terrible ear infections, and have not been able to equalize consistently since. I often can't get below 6 feet on a dive. Sudafed has helped at times. Other times I have descended with no issues and gotten a reverse block later in the dive. I can't freedive below 10 feet since I use up my entire breath hold just trying to equalize. On my last dive (Open Water #4) I descended with no trouble. My instructor had me perform a CESA about 10 minutes into the dive, and then I had to descend again to complete the last skills. On the 2nd descent I couldn't get below 6 feet, even though 10 minutes earlier I equalized with no trouble.
Starting last May I saw an ENT who did tests and said my ears look normal and I shouldn't be having trouble. Since last May I have been trying the following:
If anyone has any advice or suggestions as to where to go from here, I would really appreciate it. I'm really sad at the thought of giving up diving and really want to find a way to work through this issue.
I am one dive away from my PADI open water cert due to a persistent ear equalization issue that has caused me to have to abort many dives. I know there's a lot of advice on this forum already about equalization issues and I've looked at and tried everything I can find, but to no avail. I was hoping to get some help.
Over a year ago I had two terrible ear infections, and have not been able to equalize consistently since. I often can't get below 6 feet on a dive. Sudafed has helped at times. Other times I have descended with no issues and gotten a reverse block later in the dive. I can't freedive below 10 feet since I use up my entire breath hold just trying to equalize. On my last dive (Open Water #4) I descended with no trouble. My instructor had me perform a CESA about 10 minutes into the dive, and then I had to descend again to complete the last skills. On the 2nd descent I couldn't get below 6 feet, even though 10 minutes earlier I equalized with no trouble.
Starting last May I saw an ENT who did tests and said my ears look normal and I shouldn't be having trouble. Since last May I have been trying the following:
- practice equalizing at my desk (10-50 times a day) to train the eustachian tubes. In May I couldn't perform a Valsalva, now I can perform a Valsalva with relatively few issues (but I prefer to use other methods underwater since it takes a huge amount of force for me to Valsalva underwater). I have no trouble equalizing in air anymore
- practice freediving to train ears under pressure (again, can't get below 10 feet and that often hurts)
- try Sudafed before a dive (seems to help) -- I have not tried Afrin yet but I got some to try tomorrow
If anyone has any advice or suggestions as to where to go from here, I would really appreciate it. I'm really sad at the thought of giving up diving and really want to find a way to work through this issue.