equalising methods

[PaulD]

Hi everyone, i currently freedive about 3 to 4 times a week and am at the stage where i feel it is becoming a bit of a pain to equalize using the old pinch the nose and blow technique. Some people i have seen can do it no hands and thats what im after. Can anyone suggest the techniques to do so and maybe some training advice for these methods, thanks

 

[efattah]

Genetics can limit a person's hands free technique.

Try learning the frenzel technique here:
http://www.ericfattah.com/equalizing.html


Eric Fattah
BC, Canada

 

[Hooch]

I hear you on this one. I recently got back into spearfishing and freediving, and my old hands-free snort and swallow technique I used when I was young doesn't work anymore. The standard valsava (block nose and gently blow) alone does not work for me either, but I found that if I protrude my jaw forward, it works. Also, as you'll often hear, equalize early and often. When I begin to struggle at depth, I'll try a snort and swallow as a last ditch effort. If that doesn't work, it's time for me to go back up, recover and try again.

 

[cdavis]

PaulD,


There is a ton of stuff on this forum about different methods of clearing, Use the Search function. donmoore is a frequent and very knowledgeable poster. efattah's article is excellent. There's enough here to keep you busy for months.

Have fun

Connor

 

[flyboy748]

I practiced the excercises in Eric F's article for about an hour and a half, and I've had no trouble equalizing since. Before reading that article I was using valsalva, and I was unable to equalize deeper than 25 feet. I don't have the oportunity to dive in deep water often, but I recently did a dive to 70 feet and was able to fill my mouth completly at that depth. So I know I can equalize using Eric's technique to at least 120 feet or so, I assume deeper. Absolutely the best article I've ever seen on equalizing. Thanks again Eric!

Aaron