[efattah]

There are MANY variations of wet equalizing.

Some are totally safe, with no chance of infection.

One safe method is to dive with a mask filled with sterile saline solution (contact lens solution). After running out of 'air' to equalize, one then sucks the saline from the mask into the sinuses to continue equalizing.

Another method uses the saline mask idea only on the surface; by doing repeated 20m dives one then fills the inner ear with saline. Then, the mask is emptied of saline, and dives continue using air in the mask.

Another method is Murat's method, where he allows sea water into the sinuses but tilts his head to prevent the seawater from entering his eustachian tubes. This has a shallower depth limit than wet equalizing methods which flood the tubes as well.

Another variant is the watersuck method, which is the most difficult equalizing technique ever invented. Shortly before running out of air to equalize, one sucks water into the mouth, then opens the soft palate and allows the water to flow from the mouth into the sinuses. Then, the head is tilted to prevent the sea water from entering the inner ear. This method is the only wet equalizing method which can be done while using a standard air filled mask. It is also extremely likely to cause drowning if attempted!

All wet equalizing techniques are only necessary if going over 200m deep. The only other case they are needed is if you are doing negative pressure (full exhale) dives over 30m (which itself is equivalent to a 200m dive), or if you are doing FRC dives to over 65-70m (also equivalent of a 200m dive). In other words, for most people they have no use and introduce un-needed dangers and complexities.