How do you equalize your ears while freediving?
Your ears have an air space in the middle ear between the ear drum and the inner ear. As you descend, pressure compresses this air space, causing discomfort as the ear drum bulges inward
- An air passage called the Eustachian tube connects your middle ear to your throat. Equalize by pinching your nose and gently blowing against your nostrils. This sends air from your throat into the middle ear. You feel a popping sensation.
- Begin equalizing immediately as you start to descend. Don't wait for discomfort. Equalize frequently and gently, when you feel small pressure changes, before you feel discomfort.
- If you have difficulty equalizing, end the dive and evaluate your ears, then try another dive if appropriate. It may take some practice to equalize reliably. Never continue descending without equalizing. Doing so is painful, and can cause a middle ear squeeze and/or air eardrum rupture. Ear squeeze is probably the most common freediving injury.
- Ear plugs cause an airspace you can't equalize, so do not use ear plugs while freediving, unless they are special ear protectors made specifi cally for diving.
- Equalize gently. Never attempt a forceful and/or extended equalization. A forceful, extended equalization can cause serious, permanent injuries to your ears and hearing.
- There are variations on equalizing your ears, which you'll learn about more in the PADI Advanced Freediver course.