Equalization Problems

[billybob]

Hi,
I have recently taken up freediving and I enjoy it very much. The unfortunate thing is that I have been having problems equalizing. Usually this is not a problem when I scuba dive since I can decend upright. I've been having problems while equalizing while in a downward position.

I have a history of ear problems and as a child I had to have tubes placed in my ears. As this is a concern I have already recieved blessings from several dive doctors who have OK'd me for freediving.

I was just wondering if there are any freedivers out there who are having similar difficulties equalizing. I am especially interested in those who might have a similar medical history.

Tips, techniques, and qualified medical advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

 

[efattah]

Document

Check out the equalizing document:
http://www.ericfattah.com/equalizing.html

Be prepared to practice the exercises in this document for many hours on dry land. If you want to learn, you will succeed. If you give up after one or two hours, then you don't really want it enough.


Eric Fattah
BC, Canada

 

[divemama]

has anyone else tried the techniques from Eric's document? How did you do? I'm having a hard time with it... hoping it's something that will come as instinct when I get in the water next.

 

[divemama]

by the way, billybob, I also found that after I do several days in a row of deep dives, equalizing becomes easier b/c my ears are all "stretched out."

 

[efattah]

Two types of people

The document explains two different methods of equalizing:
1. Frenzel technique
2. Mouthfill technique (frenzel-fattah)

If a technique is not instinctive, it will not suddenly be instinctive when you get in the water. When I learned the frenzel originally, it was not instinctive. It took a while. The mouthfill was much less instinctive, and it took ages to become instinctive, but now indeed it is second nature. If you can't do the technique on land all the time, you will not be able to do it in the water. Even if you can do it 100% on land, you will barely manage it in the water, until you practice, and practice. Yet, equalizing is such an important part of diving, it must be mastered before you can worry about getting better.


Eric Fattah
BC, Canada

 

[pim]

Hey there,

I use the Frenzel for a while now....it takes some time to get used too, but it is very rewarding. Just follow Eric's document and you will get there.

Divemama: by the way, billybob, I also found that after I do several days in a row of deep dives, equalizing becomes easier b/c my ears are all "stretched out."

Stretching your drums is not the way to get deeper......:naughty



Greetings and keep breathing,

Pim Vermeulen
Netherlands