Welcome
Hi Mike,
Welcome to Deeper Blue.
What you're experiencing is a difference in pressure between inner and outer ears. The process of balancing the pressure is called equalizing, and there are quite a few different techniques on how to do this.
The 'easiest' way to do it is also the way they will teach you to do it when you learn to scuba. It's called the Valsalva technique, and is quite straight forward.
Pinch your nose closed, then blow air into it. It's that simple. You'll hear a popping sound (if you're deep) or maybe some other funny sounds if you do this right. You will also immediately feel the pressure equalize between inner and outer ear.
OK, there's a lot of warnings associated with this topic.
NEVER dive alone. That includes "swimming in a normal pool" and doing ANY kind of depth - even one meter can kill you.
Don't go deep without PROPER training. By deep I mean deeper than 3 meters. This might vary from person to person, but always err on the safe side.
Equalize early and often. This is for when you've received some basic training and are going a little deeper.
And please do get someone who knows what Shallow Water Blackout is to watch while you venture into the magnetic world of Neptune and his Mermaids ...
Regards,
Riaan Coetzee
PS: There's no such thing as "I am not planning on getting into diving either" - welcome to the rest of your life as a freediver !