trouble clearing ears??

[Ink Junkie]

Went out last Sunday and noticed that i was having a lot of trouble clearing my ears on decent. I would press the mask up under my nose and blow to equalize my ears but for some reason i couldn't get it to work, i still felt a lot of pressure that made it uncomfortable for me, or i wouldn't get a good seal and exhale and lose a lot of bottom time, any suggestions?

 

[azapa]

how deep did you stop being able to equalize?

 

[Ink Junkie]

I was only in 10-20 feet of water the pressure was just enough to be uncomfortable

 

[azapa]

if you have managed to equalize past this point before but could not now, you were either blocked up (cold) or tense. I would recomend a course to set you off right, they are a blast and great value for money.

If not, read the squillions of equalization threads here. Look for "Frenzel"

http://folk.uio.no/gardot/frenzel.pdf

[ame=http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=zPV&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&q=freediving+frenzel&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=]freediving frenzel - Google Search[/ame]

 

[Ink Junkie]

thanks brother ill check that out, I'm new to the sport and just thought i was doing somthing wrong

 

[slingshaft]

What do you mean by pressing the mask up against your nose? If you cant actually squeeze your nostrils, get a more modern design. And I've found that starting to equalise immediately as I start the dive is the only technique that works for me.

 

[vali]

in order to equalize without any problems you must:
1. clear the nose of mucus at the surface
2. make the first equalisation at the surface, before you even put your head in water
3. do not bend your head toward the bottom
4. equalize before the pain start [when you feel a slight pressure in the ears]
5. the ammount of equalisations must be done in the first 10m of water

i equalise for about 12 times for 20m descend...and don't have any problems....
because you are in hunting bussines, you must look from time 2 time at the bottom to not loose the spot...i understand this, [because i'm a hunter to]....but don't do it continously....

 

[vali]

a perfect ammount of lest is very important for your dives....but this depend on to many factors...[salinity of the water in wich you hunt, the ammount of neoprene, dictated by the temperature of the water an by your tollerance to cold or warmth...]