Problem with equalisation upside down

[azapa]

Luka, it's so hard to know whats going on via a forum. Even I don't understand my own equalization very well. For example I can dive from the surface to about 5 to 7m without feeling any pressure, and equalize after that. Why? I don't know, it just happens for me like that.

Are you saying that you can EQ to 10m heads up, then when arriving there you can go further down without equalization? This further down is head up only? Don't forget the pressure gradient in the first 10m is very high, the next 10 will always feel easier.

 

[Phil C]

Hi Luka,
I do believe that many aspects of freediving are psychological, however my own experience of difficulties with head down equalisation has been largely physiological. I spent some time experimenting dry with a tilt table. Once I become even slightly inverted my tubes lock and valsalva is suddenly impossible. This was explained to me as likely to do with flaccid tissue around the entrance to the eustacian tube. Once you invert the tissue flops closed effectively sealing the opening off. Perhaps you have something similar going on. The good news is that learning to Frenzel overcame this. It took a while to learn (many months) but within a hour of having sucessfully pressurised using the frenzel the first time I could equalise easily in any position.
My suggestion would be to learn the Frenzel as a first priority, then reevaluate if you have ongoing problems. Valsalva is an ineifficient and potentially dangerous method. If don't know what I mean here google search "valsalva" and "round window rupture".

Phil C
www.aucklandfreediving.co.nz