That old timer's tip about equalizing ear pressure actually works like a charm

Had a grizzled offshore diver named Pete tell me to swallow hard with my mask strap tight before descending, and I thought he was messing with me. Last week during a 60-foot dive in the Gulf, my ears were screaming until I tried it - cleared right up with zero pain. Anyone else get a weird trick from a salty vet that ended up being gospel?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_zara11d ago

Pete was right about the swallow trick. I had a dive buddy in Key Largo who taught me to pinch my nose and blow gently through it while looking up. That combination saved me on a 70 foot reef drop when my ears locked up bad. The old guys know what works because they've been through the same crap we deal with.

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ellis.charles11d ago

Build on that pinch and blow trick by adding a slow, gentle exhale through your nose as you start descending. I've found that if I start equalizing before I even feel pressure, it makes a huge difference. On a deeper wreck dive off of Fort Lauderdale, I hit 90 feet and my left ear started to tighten up. I did that slow exhale and tilted my head side to side and it popped right open without that sharp pain you get when you wait too long. The old guys definitely know that prevention beats trying to fix it after the fact. Your mileage may vary but it's worth trying next time you hit that first descent.