Newbie question

[moman1]

I've checked the search function out with no results so I thought I'd try posting.

I'm in the Air Force and deployed to the Mediterranean right now.
I'm new at the sport of snorkeling and I am having difficulty with the pressure below 15 feet. How can I equalize my ears at any depth?

Thanks in advance to any help.

 

[narked]

Valsalva manouvre: pinch your nose with your fingers, then blow through it. The air then goes up those tubey things (cant spell the name so wont bother trying) to your ears, and equalizes.

That's the simplest technique, and should be sufficient.

Also, welcome to Deeper Blue!

Matt

 

[fpernett]

Frenzel-Fattah

As Matt said Valsalva will be enough, but for any depth I found very useful the frenzel-fattah technique that is well explained here http://www.ericfattah.com/equalizing.html
In the words of his author.

 

[moman1]

Thanks for the advice and welcome. I just tried holding my nose and blowing today when I went snorkeling. It worked and I was able to get to about 30 feet. I could've gone further if I had more long capacity. I thought I'd never get to the surface. It didn't work everytime, but I'm still new. I'll get it down one of these days. What a rush though. Snorkeling in the Med is awesome. I'm hooked.