Overcoming Dive Equalization Issues: Tips For Easy Descents

If you are not experienced, equalising during a dive could be uncomfortable. The good news is that it could be simpler than you would have guessed. Descent stops are a basic technique to assist with dive equalising. This lets you start to feel neutrally buoyant and provide a respite from the pressure fluctuations for your ears.

Hold Your Head Above the Water.

Many scuba divers initially suffer equalisation issues; even experienced divers may have trouble with it. Before diving and develop the habit of doing it consistently during your dives, practice equalising on shore. Using a customised mask with pro-ear also facilitates simple equalisation and helps to keep water out of the ears. Blockage of the Eustachian tubes—caused by mucus pushing its way into the tube or sinus inflammation—usually from a cold—is one of the most often occurring causes of an inability to equalise. Likewise, too strong force applied in efforts to equalise might lead to eardrum barotrauma. Should you not be able to equalise throughout your descent, it is advised to climb a few feet and attempt again. This will stop the harmful and unpleasant middle ear or sinus barotrauma. Avoiding alcohol or smoking before diving is also a smart idea since these can lower the efficacy of the Valsalva Manoeuvre and complicate your ability to equalise.

Extend Your Neck

The most crucial thing is to softly and equally equalise during your downfall. There are numerous ways to equalise; you will have to find which suits your diving technique and physiology. Remember that should you be unable to equalise, halt and climb a few steps to let the pressure in your middle ear to drop. Eventually, down with unequalized ears will induce middle ear ache and might even split the eardrum. For your dive and your hearing, this is known as barotrauma and may be really harmful. Chewing gum and performing pre-dive equalisation activities such as the Valsalva manoeuvre help one prevent this. This will compel you to swallow often and help to avoid ear pressure building-up. Before diving, an ear, nose and throat specialist can also help to evaluate a deviated nasal septum or sinus disorders.

Forward Movement of Your Jaw

Equalising is the process of balancing with ambient water pressure the pressure between your sinuses and middle ear. Many divers learn to perform deliberately during their dives, but practicing this skill in the days before your diving excursion will help you find it more easy. Moving air from your throat to your ears gets more difficult if your eustachian tube is kinked or twisted. The "snort and spit" method helps divers who are congested before to a dive clean mucus from their Eustachian tubes. chewing gum helps one pre-pressurize on the surface as well. It will be less difficult to equalise on the way down if your Eustachian tubes somewhat inflate. Should you find that your ears cannot be equalised on the descent, climb a few feet and try once more before descending. Middle ear squeeze, barotrauma, and eardrum rupture may follow from constant descending with unequalized ears.

Maintain Your Eyes Up.

Maintaining proper head position can help you to equalise more easily. Try pointing one ear back towards the surface and moving your mouth as though you were ready to yawn if you discover one ear is tougher to equalise than the other. This will equalise the pressure in your ears and assist air to pass the eustachian tube. Should you find equalising difficult, think about practicing in a pool or on land. This prepares the muscles utilised in this procedure for diving. Avoiding decongestives could also be beneficial. Underwater they often wear off rapidly, which causes congestion to resurface. Generally speaking, you should equalise every few feet as you descend. This will stop the pressure in your middle ear from building up and aggravating pain. You should also get good at doing this before you start diving. Till you feel and hear a click in both ears, softly swallow numerous times.