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Which equalization technique do you use MOST OFTEN?

Discussion in 'Basic Scuba Discussions' started by knotical, Mar 9, 2015.

Which equalization technique do you use most often?

  1. Valsalva

    90 vote(s)
    67.7%

  2. Toynbee

    7 vote(s)
    5.3%

  3. Lowry

    4 vote(s)
    3.0%

  4. Edmonds

    2 vote(s)
    1.5%

  5. Frenzel

    6 vote(s)
    4.5%

  6. VTO

    13 vote(s)
    9.8%

  7. other (please explain below)

    11 vote(s)
    8.3%
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  1. knotical

    knotical perpetual student

    # of Dives: 1,000 - 2,499
    Location: Ka'u
    5,748
    824
    113
    If you don’t remember the names, the following descriptions of techniques are extracted from: http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/medical/articles/download/DiversGuidetoEars.pdf

     
    knotical, Mar 9, 2015
    knotical, Mar 9, 2015
    #1
  2. MrsNic

    MrsNic Angel Fish

    # of Dives: 25 - 49
    Location: Chester, UK
    22
    2
    3
    I just swallow?
     
    MrsNic, Mar 9, 2015
    MrsNic, Mar 9, 2015
    #2
  3. FishLovingStudent

    FishLovingStudent Divemaster

    # of Dives: 200 - 499
    Location: PNW
    163
    51
    28
    I tend to just swallow without pinching my nose. Maybe I'll try pinching and see if it would help.
     
    FishLovingStudent, Mar 9, 2015
    FishLovingStudent, Mar 9, 2015
    #3
  4. MrsNic

    MrsNic Angel Fish

    # of Dives: 25 - 49
    Location: Chester, UK
    22
    2
    3
    Glad there's not only me! I get funny looks when I say I can't do the valsalva method and only seem to be able to swallow without doing anything else.
     
    MrsNic, Mar 9, 2015
    MrsNic, Mar 9, 2015
    #4
  5. Bob DBF

    Bob DBF Solo Diver

    # of Dives: I just don't log dives
    Location: NorCal
    6,496
    6,610
    113
    Valsalva because it always works for me. Also I use Toynbee, VTO, and anything else, that work. When I dive a lot in a short period of time, equalization is easy and I don't pay attention to what I'm doing, which is the VTO, I think.



    Bob
     
    Bob DBF, Mar 9, 2015
    Bob DBF, Mar 9, 2015
    #5
    chillyinCanada likes this.
  7. TMHeimer

    TMHeimer Divemaster

    # of Dives: 500 - 999
    Location: Dartmouth,NS,Canada(Eastern Passage-Atlantic)
    12,105
    2,606
    113
    Maybe what I do is close to the VTO, though I don't push my jaw forward. I just open my Eustachian tubes somehow--like when yawning, but I don't have to yawn. I just make my ears "crackle". I can hold the "crackle" position at will and do this on land if something really noisey approaches (like a fire truck while I'm walking)--so I don't plug my ears with my fingers looking like a dork. If I'm going down real fast I do occasionally swallow now and then.
     
    TMHeimer, Mar 9, 2015
    TMHeimer, Mar 9, 2015
    #6
    Subcooled likes this.
  8. DKL

    DKL Nassau Grouper

    # of Dives: 50 - 99
    Location: Ocala, Florida
    133
    45
    0
    I'm a valsalva man. It works every time for me.
     
    DKL, Mar 9, 2015
    DKL, Mar 9, 2015
    #7
  9. Keith.M

    Keith.M PADI Pro

    # of Dives: 200 - 499
    Location: Loomis, CA US
    1,626
    925
    113
    Valsalva for me. Early and often. It just works for me. I can descend as fast as I need to with no issue.
     
    Keith.M, Mar 9, 2015
    Keith.M, Mar 9, 2015
    #8
  10. AndrewRawlingson

    AndrewRawlingson Barracuda

    250
    144
    43
    usually frenzel - it's hands free! on the rare occasions that i struggle, then gentle valsalva.
     
    AndrewRawlingson, Mar 9, 2015
    AndrewRawlingson, Mar 9, 2015
    #9
  11. Six Feet Under

    Six Feet Under Nassau Grouper

    # of Dives: 100 - 199
    Location: Central Florida
    159
    40
    28
    VTO, followed by valsalva.

    I generally just wiggle my jaw around and that seems to do the trick... worked last week down to 70 feet on repetitive dives.
     
    Six Feet Under, Mar 9, 2015
    Six Feet Under, Mar 9, 2015
    #10
    1982shawn likes this.
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