Equalising help

[notdeadyet]

When my ears are being a pain in the butt!!!! I take a 12 hour Sudafed to open the sinus a little - not the one with caffiene or any "super strong pack"

I also often do a sinus rinse the night before, its not pleasant but it helps loads

I never take Sudafed when I'm diving. It's got known side effects on mood and anxiety. When I've used it in the past it makes me noticeably short-tempered and impatient. I know other divers that have said the same. There's a good chance of me making bad decisions underwater when I feel like that so I'd rather not touch it. I believe there's been some discussion of it potentially lowering the threshold for a CNS tox as well.

[Barnoe]

My experience is that the geography of the inside of everyones head is different so you need to find a method that works for you. Also start to clear immediately you get your head under the water - don't wait for it to become uncomfortable

exactly this...

I find pulling down hardish on my ear lobe of the affected ear while i squeeze and blow my nose usually work for me.

Struggling to equalise can spoil your diving experience, and can just suddenly affect someone after several OK dives.
its a strange thing.

I had been on boats for 30 years without issue, then went sea fishing off Penzance and spent hours chuckin up over the sides turning myself inside out!!
sea sick once... whats that all about?

The body is a strange thing, well mine is lol

[Neilwood]

Try "shooting" your lower jaw forward (think underbite) while gently blowing through your nose, that can be done with a regular mouthpiece. My experience is that the geography of the inside of everyones head is different so you need to find a method that works for you. Also start to clear immediately you get your head under the water - don't wait for it to become uncomfortable

I actually start "equalising" on the surface before I descend. It seems to help when I start the dive itself.

The main thing is equalise WAY more often than you think you need to. If it has become uncomfortable, you are not equalising enough. People forget that pressure differentials are highest at the surface so you need to equalise a lot more at shallower depths than when you get near your planned depth.

[PhilPage]

Turning you ear towards the surface can help