Equalizing head down

[ploum]

Hello,

My girlfriend has started to freedive with me in my club. She's quite good (70m DYN) but cannot equalize head first, even in a 3m pool.

She did 10m FIM head-up and 18m head-up with a sled but, as soon as she her foot above her head (even on dry land), she cannot equalize at all.

She feels like a sudden block.

That's annoying because she cannot enjoy freediving trips as much as the others.

Is there any exercices, any recommandation for such a case ?

Thanks in advance

 

[Phil C]

It is typically much harder to equalise head down than up. opinions vary - may be due to pressure gradient or (more likely) due to soft fleshy skin occluding e-tube opening.

The first thing I'd check is the equalising technique being used. Place your hand on her diaphragm and ask her to equalise. If you feel any movement, chances are she is using Valsalva.

If she is using Valsalva the problem will most likely be solved by learing Frenzel. Search here for techniques, try these links Links » Auckland Freediving Club
And ideally find someone who is an equalising guru in the local area and get some hands on instruction.

You will also read people recommending a chin on chest head head position. That will help, but if she blocks instantly on inversion it is unlikely to be sufficient.

Phil C
www.aucklandfreediving.co.nz

 

[patrick.n]

I'd also say try other head positions. move the head around and gently stretch the neck while frenzelling. In my case I initially had to have my head in a 'chin up, left-ear down' position to have any success.
Also improving general posture (all the time, not just while diving) can help with reducing muscular tension around the neck, which was a major problem for me.

 

[rogam44]

I couldn't equalize head down also. I could do only some head up FIM attempts. Then I learned frenzel technique and whole new world opened before me.
Good exercise is diving with open tubes. You equalize on the surface and then you keep your tubes open as you dive down. When pressure is lost you re-pressure your tubes and keep going down.
Cold water isn't good also. It's easier to equalize in warm water.
Also diving speed is important, when I dive faster than 1m/s my ears get stuck around 15 meters, when I dive slower no problem occurs.

 

[KangJ]

this helped alot! reading up on
The Frenzel Technique.

i hope i can master this soon

 

[kevtron]

Here is a post that I found on Vertical Blue's Facebook Notes which seems to have some good practice to get equalization started.