At what Depth do your ears start to hurt?

[Ichiwichi]

Hello, I'm very new at freediving, so new to the point where I haven't dived in open water. Current static is 3 min, dynamic w/o fins is 25m.

Anyway currently I'm looking forward to diving deeper, but I notice that when i dive to about 1.5 m my ears start to hurt and I have to equalize. So just wanting to take a poll, at what depth do your ears hurt?

Thanks!

 

[apneaboy]

They never do.... I equalise

 

[WillUnderwater]

If your ears hurt - you waited too long to equalize. My first equalization is on the surface.

 

[ReefTroll]

First step to diving deeper is a course. The single most invaluable tool in the world of diving.

 

[apneaboy]

Reeftrolls ears start hurting when he gets in the bath

 

[ReefTroll]

That's only because my wife is always standing on my head!

 

[apneaboy]

I met a bloke at a dive site once, he was in the water by himself, on Scuba, I was kitted up and walking to the entrance. He shouted me and asked how do I stop my ears hurting?

I asked him where his buddy was first, I don't have one he said, I just bought this kit and wanted to go diving.

Oh, I said, well i'll give you some good advice then. Get out of the water before you hurt yourself and go and learn what you are supposed to do.

I honestly in two minutes could have taught him to equalise, but that would have put him at the bottom of a 20m quarry. There is a lot to learn, not just what the immediate problem is at that second. Good luck finding some divers to train with, it'll make it more fun and safer

 

[ReefTroll]

Good god that's frightening!!

 

[Ichiwichi]

Thanks for the replies guys, will keep it in mind for my next pool session

 

[Ms Mer]

Thanks for the replies guys, will keep it in mind for my next pool session

Are you training with a club/group or solo?

 

[Ichiwichi]

Um, solo most of the time. I noticed that when I try to equlize by holding my nose, my right ear doesn't seem to 'lock' in place like my left ear. Anyone know a remedy?

 

[Ms Mer]

Um, solo most of the time. I noticed that when I try to equlize by holding my nose, my right ear doesn't seem to 'lock' in place like my left ear. Anyone know a remedy?

Really REALLY dangerous to train on your own. Also very unfair on the pool staff. The best thing you can do for yourself to improve is to join a club or to train with other divers.

 

[vali]

better is not to train solo!
i read above that your STA is 3 min
i don't quite understant what is "dynamic w/o fins"?
if it's dynamic with fins, i think that 25m is way under your static capabilities [just asking]
there are some triks when equalizing
be shure that your ways are cleared [no mucus inside sinuses]!!!
first equalization with the head up and out of the water!!!
never dive further if feel pain in your ears
if the equalization was not succesful at shallow water, will be imposible deeper!!!...and if you insist in equalizing you can hurt your eardrums
************
when i was young, in my country was a dictatorial regim, and freediving or scubadiving was like going on the moon for us...not even a beat of information regarding those activities...
because i was inloved with snorkeling and spearfishing, i often went deeper without equalizing [I was not aware at that time what Valsalva was]
i thaught that the pain was suposed to be normal at depth...
the maximum dept i reached without equalization was aprox 8 and a half meters....excruciating pain!!! and great ignorance....
later, after our revolution, the informations and opening to the rest of the world made me discover that i can dive without ears pain...
a scuba-diver instructor told me about Valsava maneouver
**************
so!
do the step one by one....and never dive alone!!!
i'm somehow worried about those 3 minutes of STA without a buddy to assist you!!!

 

[Apneaddict]

Try equalizing every meter on the way down. It makes things a lot easier in the first 15m or so, if you are getting stuck before that.

 

[baiyoke]

Um, solo most of the time. I noticed that when I try to equlize by holding my nose, my right ear doesn't seem to 'lock' in place like my left ear. Anyone know a remedy?

Ichiwichi, please, find someone to dive with. What you are doing now is very dangerous, even if it doesn't feel like it is... You can not know when you will pass out!!!

Read a lot on this forum, and take a freediving course...

Just to be clear: You need a buddy who knows about freediving, and you are doing very dangerous stuff right now. Do not give in to the temptation of doing freediving alone... it is easy and relaxed, yes, but dangerous!! Find a buddy, and you need to know about freediving too, so you can be his/her buddy...

 

[Ichiwichi]

@Vali 25m without fins because I don't own any at the moment :l Also, the pool is only 25m long and 1.2m deep which is quite sad. My 3min STA is done out of water, I don't force myself when in the pool, though I understand that people can pass out without warning.

@ the rest

Thanks for the concern guys, I'll try to find a buddy ASAP. I didn't bother finding one cos my work schedule is quite messed up, and didn't want to keep cancelling on trainings. I'll probably just get a friend as a spotter or something.

Anyone from Singapore here?

 

[vali]

the good thing with the buddy is that it give you confidence
the good thing with others doing training with you, is that they give you motivation
25m without fins is ok i guess
not any firend can be your safety buddy in freediving training
your buddy must know the signs that preclude samba or black-out and he must know what to do in such situations!!!