Here are my two cents. You don´t have to be in the water to practice equalizing. Do it several times throughout the day. If you hear that crackling noise, you are doing it.
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Here are my two cents. You don´t have to be in the water to practice equalizing. Do it several times throughout the day. If you hear that crackling noise, you are doing it.
I remember that feeling well ... nine years and 2500 dives later I still feel that way ...I took my first breaths under water tonight and all I can say is I'm hooked.
Thats the best thing I have done with clothes on......... well trunks anyway.
It does get easier with practice (like most things) ... start out by clearing your ears before you begin to descend. Clear them often ... as soon as you start to feel pressure building up. Don't wait for discomfort, or it'll be more difficult and may cause damage. If you can't clear them on the first attempt, STOP the descent and try again. If you can't clear them on the second attempt, go up a couple feet and try again. Repeat this last step until they're cleared.I did have some trouble whit equalizing, left ear seem ok, right one I had some problems with and just like I have read here, I went up a few feet and back down. It seemed to work.
But I do have a bit of an ear ache in my right ear now that I am done.
Will this get easier as I dive more often'
I am going to sign up for my ow course as soon as the dive shop opens in the morning
Watch the video TSandM posted - some great techniques. The thing to remember when equalizing is that you don't need to push your ear drums ALL the way out - adjust only until comfortable. In the video the doc describes the process of how things become easier - that your ear drum gets more flexible like any body part.
BTW, you kinda bought your gear a bit backwards. Ideally you should buy the personal gear first, like a mask that fits well or fins, then maybe a computer and exposure suit (the Caribbean is still a bit chilly in winter - a 3mil treats me well).