My left ear is aching a little bit...

[subaquaticus]

This year, I almost exclusively trained in swimming pools (max depth 3.50 m)

I went only once to the diving pit where I dove down to 20 m (without fins)...

I am taking part in Nice CIPA Open but I am a bit worried with my left ear...

Today I trained in a swimming pool with depths varying from 1.80 m to 3.50 m...

I usually push from the wall in an oblique direction ; no problem with equalization...

I did some duckdives in the 3.50 m part in order to train for the constant weight... I did no Valsalva, but kind of Frenzel...

After some duckdives I began to feel a pain in the left ear doing a duckdive...

The pain seems to be connected not with the depth, but with the speed of descent…

What should I do ?

Last week I had the same feeling...

Should I stop swimming underwater for a while ?

[DeepThought]

My first advice is to equalize faster, more frequently and maybe more gentle, even if it means inserting an equalization into the duckdive itself. Some people can go the first 8 meters before the first equalization while others (me included) have to equalize very frequently, sometimes even twice each meter for the first 10-20 meters.
Also, equalize once on the surface just before the duckdive.

[subaquaticus]

Originally Posted by DeepThought

My first advice is to equalize faster, more frequently and maybe more gentle, even if it means inserting an equalization into the duckdive itself. Some people can go the first 8 meters before the first equalization while others (me included) have to equalize very frequently, sometimes even twice each meter for the first 10-20 meters.
Also, equalize once on the surface just before the duckdive.

thanks for your advice which confirms what I was thinking of...

equalizing just before the duck dive seems a good idea ...

[subaquaticus]

Originally Posted by DeepThought

Also, equalize once on the surface just before the duckdive.

excellent advice !

[TNdiver]

actually, not that it matters because the technique is right but.., its not really equalizing when you're on the surface before the dive. You arent equalizing because there's not negative pressure to equalize, you're pressurizing your ears. One of those little things that by deffinition isn't quite right, but is still the right idea. Just thought id mention it before anyone else did. That being said i have to do the same thing. I still end up having to equalize just a few feet down, but then i quit having a problem keeping up with the equalization. I'm not sure if some of us just feel the pressure more, or if differences in our bodys make the pressure actually affect us differently. Maybe Eric can shed a little more light on that subject.