Pictured: Mastering Equalization: Line Diving at Napaling Reef
Equalization 101: A Freediver’s Guide to Happy Ears
If you’ve ever felt a sharp pain or pressure in your ears while freediving, you’ve experienced the dreaded ear squeeze. But fear not! Equalization is the key to keeping your ears happy and healthy during your underwater adventures.
What is Equalization?
As we’ve learned with the explanation of Boyl’s law for freedivers, air volumes shrink due to the increased pressure while diving down. Equalization is the process of balancing the pressure inside your middle ear with the increasing pressure of the surrounding water as you descend. Equalization involves opening the Eustachian tubes, narrow passages that connect your middle ear to the back of your throat, allowing air to flow into the middle ear and equalize the pressure.
Why is Equalization Important?
Without equalization, the pressure difference between your middle ear and the surrounding water can cause:
Ear Pain: This can range from mild discomfort to excruciating pain, making your dive unbearable.
Ear Barotrauma: This refers to injuries caused by pressure changes, such as eardrum rupture or middle ear damage.
Vertigo or Dizziness: Unequalized ears can disrupt your balance and spatial awareness, leading to disorientation underwater.
Equalization Techniques
Several equalization techniques exist, each with its own advantages and best suited for different individuals and situations:
Valsalva Maneuver: The most common technique practiced often by scuba divers involves gently pinching your nose and blowing air into your ears. This forces air through the Eustachian tubes, equalizing the pressure.
Frenzel Maneuver: This technique uses the back of your tongue to push air into your Eustachian tubes. It’s often considered more efficient and less stressful on your eardrums than the Valsalva. The Frenzel technique is the preferred technique for freedivers.
Toynbee Maneuver: Pinch your nose and swallow. This action opens the Eustachian tubes and can help equalize pressure.
Lowry Technique: Combine the Valsalva and Toynbee maneuvers – pinch your nose, blow gently, and swallow simultaneously.
Voluntary Tubal Opening: Some freedivers can voluntarily open their Eustachian tubes without pinching their nose. This is often considered an advanced technique, but it’s more of a natural effect that requires practice and control.
Tips for Successful Equalization
Start Early: Begin equalizing before you feel any discomfort. The deeper you go, the harder it becomes to equalize.
Equalize Frequently: Equalize frequently during your descent, even if you don’t feel any pressure. Equalize a lot – especially at the beginning of your dive – equalizing every half a meter or every few feet is necessary.
Relax: Tension can make equalization difficult. Relax your jaw, throat, and neck muscles.
Experiment: Try different relaxation techniques to find what works best for you.
Don’t Force It: If you can’t equalize, stop descending and ascend slightly until you can. Never force equalization, as it can cause injury.
When to Seek Help
First and foremost, talk to a qualified instructor. At the academy, we talk about equalization literally every day, and discuss it in-depth with every freediving course. At the academy, we never had a single student who couldn’t equalize – unless something would be physically off, but we never encountered this – everyone can equalize! After talking to a proper professional, if you still experience persistent ear pain, difficulty equalizing, or any signs of ear injury, it might be wise to consult with a doctor or ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist.
Equalization: Your Key to Comfortable Dives
Mastering equalization is essential for enjoying safe and comfortable freedivers. With practice and patience, you can develop these skills and unlock the wonders of the underwater world without any ear-related worries.
