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At a roadblock, and need some advice

Thread Status: Hello , There was no answer in this thread for more than 90 days.
It can take a long time to get an up-to-date response or contact with relevant users.
interesting Trux. thanks for that. Do you have link to Jome's document, i have it but for some reason the images did not come out.

regarding my particular Frenzel, it is awful and most people who dive with me hear the "guuuunnnnnngg" noise I make when I do it. I am sure it is Frenzel as I pass your "test" and can do a poor mouthfill equalization down to 50m or so.

Have you heard anyone else make such a noise? Why might it be? Thanks.
 
Azapa

This is a big problem for me. I started doing it when I needed big pressure to clear the sinuses (not recommended). I'm sealing off the nasal cavity with the soft pallet and forcing the air into my lungs through a closed epiglottis. Mouth full disappears, ear squeeze starts and below 40 there is no way to get it back.
 
Bill, thanks for the answer, it's comforting to hear I'm not the only one! Yes, over pressurizing (I have tight ears I would say, getting better by the dive, but tight) via Freznel must be forcing air back to the lungs via the "semi" close epiglottis. That must be the "guuuuuungggggg" noise.

How are you trying to solve the problem? It would seem there is a need to strengthen the epiglottis seal?
 
'How are you trying to solve the problem? It would seem there is a need to strengthen the epiglottis seal?'

I really don't want to tell about my problems and give you any bad ideas but let me caution you on your thinking. No details but it is possible to apply enough pressure with your tongue to blow out your eardrum or at least rearrange the parts of your inner ear. That cost me the hearing in my right ear and it was my good one. Easy does it.

On top of that, it happens to me below 40 now and narcosis is bad enough that I'm not sure of what I did or didn't do. My last three dives below 60, all I remember is how easy this is and what the bottom looks like.

Advice; be patient, relax and stop as soon as the clearing isn't perfect.
 
interesting Trux. thanks for that. Do you have link to Jome's document, i have it but for some reason the images did not come out.
Yes, in fact the document on the web site of the Finnish Team is a copy of the original Jome's article, but they kept links to images on the old server that apparently does not exist anymore. I managed to find a PDF copy of the document including the images here:

onplonge.com : base de connaissance (Knowledge Base
 
Ok try this

Imagine that you have no air in the lungs. You must equalize without your lungs. Just using the air you can get in your mouth. You are not allowed to use your lungs in this exercise.

Did it work?
 
thanks for the ideas to learn frenzel. I still haven't got it figured out yet, however I have been able to equalize with valsalva while inverted! I have no idea what I am doing different now, but I hope it lasts (until I learn frenzel). While spearfishing today I was able to dive to 40 feet completely inverted with no problems at all, thank god. I have been practicing equalizing with valsalva and have been able to gradually make my way from head above my lungs to completely inverted.
 
It took me about 1 1/2 years but I FINALLY got frenzel figured out yesterday! It has been incredibly easier to equalize (vs. valsalva) and I am spending much MUCH less energy doing so. What worked for me was practicing on dry land. Instead of thinking about my tongue, I pinched my nose and brought my chin towards my chest. This created the pressure required to equalize. I brought the same technique into the water and it worked just fine. Then, within a few dives I figured out how to use my tongue. I make a "grouper noise" i.e. draw air out of my lungs and into my mouth, equalize, then repeat. I am basically constantly doing this from the surface to my max depth. At first I was only getting to 10m, but then got to 15m. Today (2nd day with frenzel) I got to 20m. I know I need to keep practicing as there is still some things for me to figure out and refine, but I know I now have the tools to go deep beyond RV.

Just wanted to give this update in case anyone else is going through what I did. I started out being unable to equalize inverted. I finally was able to equalize inverted using valsalva (first to only 5m, ultimately down to 28m), and now I finally figured out frenzel. All this over the last 18 months. The key thing has been to practice, practice, practice and never give up.
 
Just wanted to give this update in case anyone else is going through what I did.

Good to hear pdabill. I'm glad to know there might be hope for me yet. I've just been trawling through the forum looking for tips on equalising, and when I read your orignial post that sounds exactly like me! I first found I had a "head-down problem" when I took a course a year ago. It was good to find what the problem was, but I'm still working on the solution...
 
I experienced the same in the beginning. Frenzel now usually works all the way down to the bottom of the 20m pool. But, if I am not relaxed or disturbed it sometimes doesn't work below 15m. Relaxation really makes it much easier!
 
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