Modifying a Sphera to help Equalization.

[Polorutz]

Ok guys here's my question and Idea, about 3 months ago I started practicing frenzel and BTV in conjunction which made me able to equalize hands free for quite some time, however, as soon as I did about 5 dives the tibes would swell a bit or maybe my muscles get tired or something but I just can't open the tubes, I can with the pinched nose effortlessly equalize though.

Adding to that problem, I got a nasty sinus, ear and throat infection that filled my ears with fluid, on top of that my turbinates got incredibly swollen and covered the entrance to my right tube which made hands free equalization impossible up until now that it's starting to go back to it's original size.

Now comes my question, I know that on a rare good day I will be able to equalize hands free but I would like to be able to do so on a regular basis... I am going to get surgery to remove my tonsils and reduce the turbinates but in the short term I have found out that all I need is a little more pressure than the one created by the seal of the mask however it is nothing dramatic... what I am toying with here is that I need a sort of noseclip (small so it can fit in the nosepocket of the sphera mask) that will provide a very small amount of pressure but that will allow me to equalize the mask if I do a strong effort.

I have thought a lot about this and have come up with several ideas, the first one is modiying the sphera mask, gluing a sort of rubber piece on each side of the nosepocket so as to pressure my nose slightly, I have not experimented with this yet and I don't know if this is possible due to the fact that the skirt of the sphera is too feeble and if I put something between it and my nose it might open up the seal of the mask... etc.

another Idea is to just get a really small noseclip with a really feeble grip so as to provide with a very small pressure buildup in my sinues as to allow the tubes to open easily but if i blow hard enough they have to open to let me compensate the mask, however building this is not easy and figuring out how to maintain the piece on its place after the first mask compensation isn't either...

Any help or ideas is appreciated and I know picturing these kinds of ideas is not easy without pictures... I will try to make something up soon and show you guys.

 

[jome]

The "small noseclip" works for some really well. For me it's not enough resistance, but I know at least one diver who dives like that...And if it fails, you can always revert back to grabbing your nose.

You can fit at least the speedo nose clip very well inside a sphera...

I've tried all kinds of gluing modifications, but the thing is, I couldn't find a glue that would stick to the silicone. Suggestions are welcome...

 

[Polorutz]

another thing I was thinking... what about when you're coming up?? how do one manages to suck the air from the mask back?? I was thinking maybe at the bottom move one of the buds so one nostrill is openand I could do so...

 

[Absolute]

I would try tighting up the mask strap first. The increaced mask pressure on your face will keep the air in the mask rather than bubbling out. Now you can force more air pressure into the mask which will inturn equalize the ear. Then on the acent, not problem to sniff the air back in.

Just my thought.

Jay

 

[DeepThought]

Also thought about that idea once, not enough to play with anything though.
I think Bevan told me he used to put the paradisia slightly loose over the sphera for Unassited, might work for you...
Tell us if you come up with anything.

 

[Polorutz]

Well I bought and tried the speedo noseclip.. it fits very well inside the sphera and the added pressure allows me to equalize very easily, however... given the fact that the noseclip is inside the nosepocket of the sphera, removing it at depth to suck the air back in is impossible and I consider this a VERY important part of a CW inmerssion... so the speedo noseclip idea is out for me I have tightened the mask before but the pressure with which it breaks the seal is sometimes not enough to allow equalization...

I just need to get my surgery...

 

[Absolute]

Have you read Pelizzari's manual? He talks about tubular aerobics. Sticking some adapter into your nose and a balloon on the other end. Inflate the baloon with your nose and go through some frazes like glu gla glash, he ha hooo or something like that. Sounds kind of funny and I have not tried it yet. Still looking for something to make the transition from nose to baloon.

 

[jome]

Poloruz, with some masks and some noses, it is possible to attach a noseclip, such as the paradisia outside the mask (like someone mentioned). This is a good hybrid solution.
-You start the dive hands free to about 20m, which is the toughest part
-At that depth (freefall) you take the clip off and use traditional equalizing
-When you're swimming up, you no longer have the clip on and thus no problems

The sphera for example is so flexible that you can easily dive to 20m without having to equalize it.

While I've seen this work for some divers, I haven't been able to get the noseclip to stay on the nose. The silicone is so slippery and my nose is some how wrong shape for this, it simply slips off.

I tired to glue some bits on the outside of the nose part of the mask, so I could fasten the clip to them, but was unsuccessfull and gave up...But if someone comes up with a way to get glue to stick on the silicone, it definately should be possible and I cannot imagine why I would need a fancier solution, since pipe masks and fluid goggles both have their shortcomings. Fluid goggles are too cold for these waters and a pipe mask is simply too complicated to operate (IMO). The mask+paradisia would be simple and efficient, if only I could get it to stay on...

 

[Absolute]

Yes, I agree that is a good style. Try sanding the slilicone with some fine grit sand paper. When these things come out of the mold there is still a little mold release on them. With this stuff still on the silicone it is impossible for any glue to stick to it. Rough it up a bit, wipe it down with finger nail polish remover or acetone, let that dry and try and use 3m's 5200. It comes in black so it should match just fine. Let it dry for about 6 days and it will never come off. NEVER. I had to make a pair of OMER fins work this way. The rubber side rails kept comming off. Tried glueing them with out sanding and they just poped right back off. Sanded the mold release off and no problem.

 

[DeepThought]

given the fact that the noseclip is inside the nosepocket of the sphera, removing it at depth to suck the air back in is impossible

Kinda crude but maybe you can connect a really thin line to it (that might not ruin the mask's seal) and pull it when needed to nudge it enough to clear your nostrils (or one of them).