Ear equalization tips

[pipedope]

There are three main things to making equalization easy.

1. Learning. Go to;
http://faculty.washington.edu/ekay/index.html
and watch the streaming video.

2. Practice.
Practice equalizing your ears on days you dive and on days you don't dive. This helps train your mind and body to do it easily and automatically.

3. Physical attributes.
Some people are blessed and it is never a problem for them. Most of us learn it. If you learn and practice and still have trouble see an ENT, you may have structural problems and there may be something the Doc can do to make it easier.

 

[616fun]

I read thru the threads and didn't see anyone say it directly, so I will. I actually put slight pressure in my ears immediately prior to my descent. That way I am actually ahead of the curve. The most drastic pressure changes happen within the first few feet, so your ears have a bit of pressure on them when you start down it makes it easier. That said, don't try to put significant pressure on your ears, just enough to take the edge off in the 1st few feet.

Also - as Pipedone said, practice both in and out of water. I actually equalized my ears a couple of times a day for the first few months I dove. Now I start equalizing a couple of times a day a few days before I go diving.