Pictured: Stay Safe Underwater: Learning Rescue and Safety in Freediving
Freediving is an exhilarating journey into the depths, but with master freedivers training deeper with increasing pressure comes the potential for barotrauma—injuries caused by the imbalance of pressure between the body’s air spaces and the surrounding environment. While often preventable, understanding the different types of barotrauma and how to avoid them is crucial for every freediver who wants to dive deeper and safer.
What is Barotrauma?
Barotrauma refers to damage to body tissues caused by pressure differences. In freediving, this can affect various air spaces within the body.
Types of Freediving Barotrauma
1. Ear Barotrauma: As you descend, the increasing pressure compresses the air in your middle ear. If you don’t equalize this pressure, it can lead to pain, discomfort, and even injury to your eardrum or middle ear.
2. Sinus Barotrauma: Similar to ear barotrauma, sinus barotrauma occurs when the air spaces in your sinuses fail to equalize with the surrounding pressure, leading to pain and inflammation.
3. Lung Squeeze (Pulmonary Barotrauma): This is a rare but serious condition that can occur during deep dives. If the pressure in your lungs is lower than the surrounding water pressure, your lungs can compress beyond their residual volume, potentially causing bleeding and damage.
4. Mask Barotrauma: This occurs when the air space inside your mask isn’t equalized during descent. The negative pressure can rupture blood vessels in and around your eyes, leading to bruising, swelling, and even bleeding in the eyes.
5. Trachea Barotrauma: This form of barotrauma involves trachea (windpipe) injury due to pressure differences and/or bad equalization practices. It can cause pain, difficulty breathing, and, in severe cases, bleeding.
Symptoms of Barotrauma
Ear Pain: The most common symptom, ranging from mild discomfort to severe pain.
Muffled Hearing: You may experience muffled hearing or a feeling of fullness in your ears.
Vertigo or Dizziness: Unequalized pressure can disrupt your balance and spatial awareness.
Sinus Pain or Headache: the injuries of your sinuses can cause pain in your forehead or cheeks.
Bloody Nose: This can occur if the pressure forces blood vessels in your sinuses to rupture.
Coughing Up Blood (Lung Squeeze): This is a sign of serious trachea or lung injury.
Eye Bruising or Swelling (Mask Barotrauma): Bruising or redness around the eyes can indicate mask barotrauma.
Pain or Difficulty Breathing (Trachea Barotrauma): Pain or discomfort in the throat or chest can be a sign of trachea barotrauma.
Preventing Barotrauma
Equalize Early and Often: Begin equalizing before you feel any discomfort or pressure. The deeper you go, the harder it becomes to equalize, and you should practice advanced equalization techniques.
Use Proper Equalization Techniques: Master the equalization techniques we call the Frenzel maneuver and use them often and regularly during your descent.
Ascend Slowly: Never exhale your breath while ascending.
Respect Your Limits: Don’t push your depth limits beyond what you’ve trained for and feel comfortable with. Never make bigger jumps than 2, maximum of 3 meters from your comfort level.
Mask Equalization: Exhale gently into your mask during descent to equalize the pressure.
Stay Healthy: Avoid diving if you have a cold, allergies, or congestion that could block your Eustachian tubes or sinuses.
Stay Hydrated: Proper hydration can help thin mucus and make equalization easier.
Treating Barotrauma
If you experience symptoms of barotrauma, stop diving immediately and ascend slowly. Most cases of mild barotrauma resolve on their own, but it’s essential to seek medical attention if you have persistent pain, bleeding, hearing loss, or difficulty breathing.
Barotrauma: A Risk Worth Managing
Barotrauma is a risk in advanced and master freediving, but it can be effectively managed with proper freedive training, technique, awareness, and coaching. By understanding the causes, symptoms, and prevention strategies, you can enjoy the wonders of the deep while keeping your ears, sinuses, lungs, and other air spaces safe and healthy. Remember, prioritize safety above all else, and listen to your body’s signals to ensure a comfortable, enjoyable, freediving experience.
