Clogged Ear
Britt:
Sometimes when I descend, I get trapped air under my hood and in the ear. It stops me dead in my tracks at less than 10 feet! It is usually only in one ear when this happens. Once I flood my hood by pulling it away from my ears, I can go back down. But I imagine if I forced the dive, it may drive the air in deeper and not clear out so easily. Be sure to flood your ears entirely before descending. Some say a sudden temp change affects the ear, but this was on the warm surface when I experienced it, prior to descending. I once even turned my head sideways while underwater and heard the air under my hood shift and enter one ear. I was messed up so bad that I just ended the day right then.
This may or may not be what you are experiencing. Good luck at any rate.
Jim