I learned how to equalize by "flexing" muscles in my inner ear when I used to fly a lot as a kid. When I started freediving, I tried that and initially it worked to sixty feet or so.
I think one way to do it is position your mask so that the nose piece sits a little high on your face and partially blocks your nostrils. Then you can generate some pressure that way. That's not the perfect way to do it, since I can equalize hands free no matter how my mask is positioned. I don't really know how to identify which muscles I'm moving inside my head. Thrusting your jaw forward does help, I think.
Another key factor is speed of descent. If I pike down too quickly and I'm too tense (as I found out this weekend at the Canadian regionals), my ears get blocked and no amount of Fresnel or pinch and blow or ear-flexing helps. It's really crucial to start it off right and not be too greedy with time between equalizations. I usually equalize every one or two monofin strokes (every 2-4m).
My dive to -35m with "no hands' was on a recreational dive and I took my time to get down to depth.
Hope some of this helps.
Pete
|
