20 ft limit

[Don Kimball]

I just finished my first free diving course.I was unable to take advantage of the opertunity because of my inability to equalize below 20 ft.I've had this problem before. I've never gone deeper. Thought it might be technique,now I'm not sure. I made an appointment with an ENT with diving experience to find out if problem is physiological or structural. Lot I can do if this is my limit.

 

[cdavis]

Hi Don,

If you can get to 20, you almost certainly are equalizing at least once, probably several times. If you can do it once, you can do it to 30 meters. You probably have some structural issues that make it difficult. Maybe those are fixable. Fix or not, better technique should carry you much deeper. Do you know how to Frenzel?

Connor

 

[Kars]

There are many, many things you can try in order to equalise:

Practice dry, do you hear and feel the eardrums and tubes?
Pre equalise at the surface,
Equalise at very small intervals, like every feet,
Go feet first along a line.
Can you equalise on scuba?
Can you bring the air up to your mouth?
Is your body rested, healthy, hydrated, clear of (excessive) mucus?
Is your head warm?
Are you relaxed and comfortable?
Is equalising in a pool of 10ft/15ft deep easy?
Are both ears behaving the same?

There are a lot of tricks and things one can do.

Love, Courage and Water,

Kars

 

[Don Kimball]

Thanks for reply
Cleared on surface and every foot or so.
No problem in pool
More noticable in right ear

 

[cdavis]

If you are using Valsalva to equalize, learn to Frenzel, a much much more powerful technique for forcing air into your eustachian tubes. Search 'frenzel' for more info.

Connor

 

[Jolleren]

Don: I may be getting on this question a little late but I had exactly the same issue on my freediving course last year. I have no issues equalizing on scuba but did when freediving. Couldn't get past 22 feet and its in my right ear! I've done just a little research as I'm determined to fix the issue. I too got great advice on hydration, relaxation, clearing very very early and very often but right now I'm pretty sure the cause is the head-down body position. The reason being, I was able to freedive a little recently and when I reached the 20 foot or so limit to equalization I flipped my body vertical and then cleared, it worked perfectly. I was then able to continue to descend and repeated a couple more times on the way down. Terribly inefficient but did give me hope. What I think I may be doing in the head down position is having the wrong head position, staring at the bottom which could be closing off the eustachian tubes enough to make equalization very difficult. My next deep pool practice and open water dives will be to test this idea and look straight out at the line and clear, but still clear v.v early and v. often. Although its a very frustrating issue, I'm glad to know I'm not the only one and I hope this helps with your equalization problems.

 

[Don Kimball]

Just returned from a visit with ENT diver. Her recomandation is use Flonase for daily for 3 wks prior to dive and conitnue for 3 wks after and use Afrin 1st two days of dive.
Now I need buddies for dive and wait for spring.

 

[Mr. X]

Don: I may be getting on this question a little late but I had exactly the same issue on my freediving course last year. I have no issues equalizing on scuba but did when freediving. Couldn't get past 22 feet and its in my right ear! I've done just a little research as I'm determined to fix the issue. I too got great advice on hydration, relaxation, clearing very very early and very often but right now I'm pretty sure the cause is the head-down body position. The reason being, I was able to freedive a little recently and when I reached the 20 foot or so limit to equalization I flipped my body vertical and then cleared, it worked perfectly. I was then able to continue to descend and repeated a couple more times on the way down. Terribly inefficient but did give me hope. What I think I may be doing in the head down position is having the wrong head position, staring at the bottom which could be closing off the eustachian tubes enough to make equalization very difficult. My next deep pool practice and open water dives will be to test this idea and look straight out at the line and clear, but still clear v.v early and v. often. Although its a very frustrating issue, I'm glad to know I'm not the only one and I hope this helps with your equalization problems.

Might be worth having your GP check your ears.

 

[azapa]

I wouldn't go with chemicals and drops and stuff. you probably just need more time in the water.

i had a terrible time passing first 12M (40 feet) then 17m (56ft) when starting, but I just need more tips, practice, relaxation and time in the water. As Eric Fattah said once: he had hardly ever seen anyone, who despite having these EQ based depth limits, could not train though them with time.

Good luck and tell us when you punch through!