Topic: Question for divers (Read 615 times)

April 23, 2014, 07:52:09 PM

When you dive does your ear sting? Last Saturday water was a little cloudy and a little dark so I couldnt see bottom I dove down to look around and all of s sudden sharp pain in my right ear cant remember if the left one did.but is this your body telling you, you reached your limit.or is it just an off day and eventually it'll go away. This happened to me twice now once in Hawaii and I the water was so clear I didn't realize how deep it was until I started going down.and this Saturday. Thanks for the info

April 23, 2014, 08:02:33 PM #1

You must equalize the pressure building in your sinus. Or you could have a sinus infection. That happened to me twice. Don't wait until the pressure is big. Keep equalizing all the way from top to bottom. Take care Dune.

April 23, 2014, 09:16:36 PM #2

When you mention a sting on your ear; is it literally a sting on your ear or is it pain in your inner ear?
Like Ravensblack mentioned, you must clear your sinuses all the way down starting at the surface. There is a reason your diving mask has a nose on it. It's so you can reach up, pinch your nose, and blow gently to equalize pressure as you descend.
Taking an anti histamine before your dive will make the process go a lot easier.

April 23, 2014, 09:47:24 PM #3

some times it happens if you are descending too fast, next time stop and maybe go back up a foot or two and equalized, it is easier if you are using a rope attached to a chain as you descend.

April 24, 2014, 02:22:13 AM #4

Quote from: Tote on April 23, 2014, 09:16:36 PM

When you mention a sting on your ear; is it literally a sting on your ear or is it pain in your inner ear?
Like Ravensblack mentioned, you must clear your sinuses all the way down starting at the surface. There is a reason your diving mask has a nose on it. It's so you can reach up, pinch your nose, and blow gently to equalize pressure as you descend.
Taking an anti histamine before your dive will make the process go a lot easier.

its pain.I dont dive that deep.I always thought all the troubles of diving only happens cause your going deep

April 24, 2014, 07:08:55 AM #5

All good info here. Equalization is different almost everytime depending on sinuses. Clear all the way down for sure. If you ever burst an eardrum, you will know the difference. Happened to me twice due to not clearing properly.

April 24, 2014, 07:22:12 AM #6

+1 equalizing your ears.

You also need to equalize your mask too by breathing out of your nose a little bit. This will prevent mask squeeze that can cause ruptured blood vessels in your eyes.

Happened to me the first time I went to 25 ft about 4 years ago.
No Bueno

April 24, 2014, 07:26:25 AM #7

Quote from: Cabeza de Martillo on April 24, 2014, 07:22:12 AM

+1 equalizing your ears.

You also need to equalize your mask too by breathing out of your nose a little bit. This will prevent mask squeeze that can cause ruptured blood vessels in your eyes.

Happened to me the first time I went to 25 ft about 4 years ago.
No Bueno

Good one Antonio!

April 24, 2014, 08:29:19 AM #8

Quote from: dune12 on April 24, 2014, 02:22:13 AM

Quote from: Tote on April 23, 2014, 09:16:36 PM
When you mention a sting on your ear; is it literally a sting on your ear or is it pain in your inner ear?
Like Ravensblack mentioned, you must clear your sinuses all the way down starting at the surface. There is a reason your diving mask has a nose on it. It's so you can reach up, pinch your nose, and blow gently to equalize pressure as you descend.
Taking an anti histamine before your dive will make the process go a lot easier.
its pain.I dont dive that deep.I always thought all the troubles of diving only happens cause your going deep

Every 10 feet or so you increase the pressure a lot. Like double every 10'. You need to be clearing all the way down, even shallow diving you will feel the benefit. I had piece of a pool noodle on my Go Pro in Hawaii when I was scuba diving. At 30-40 feet it had so much pressure it almost disappeared it got so small.

April 24, 2014, 08:36:16 AM #9

Like everyone has said...you really need to start equalizing as soon as you begin to descend and continue all the way down...your ears, your sinuses, your mask...

Quote from: dune12 on April 23, 2014, 07:52:09 PM

When you dive does your ear sting? Last Saturday water was a little cloudy and a little dark so I couldnt see bottom I dove down to look around and all of s sudden sharp pain in my right ear cant remember if the left one did.but is this your body telling you, you reached your limit.or is it just an off day and eventually it'll go away. This happened to me twice now once in Hawaii and I the water was so clear I didn't realize how deep it was until I started going down.and this Saturday. Thanks for the info

It's not your body telling you that you've reached your limit, it's your body telling you that you need to equalize so that you can comfortably and safely keep on hunting.

Practice during the day too...I equalize my ears handsfree all day throughout the day...gets the canals and stuff limber and loose...like stretching a muscle...then when you go to dive it will be pretty much an automatic response...

I also just blow out gently through my nose to equalize my mask...takes some practice but if you don't equalize your mask your eyes will get jacked up and it will hurt...

Everyone equalizes different....some days when I am slightly congested I have to pinch my nose and blow but that is not the norm for me...

Just need to figure out what works for you...

Sincerely,

Jim

April 24, 2014, 08:53:14 AM #10

I wiggle, adjust my jaw back and forth usually. Sometimes though I need to do the nose grab and blow thing.

April 24, 2014, 08:59:56 AM #11

I make sure that I can pop my ears on the surface before trying it at 5'. A couple of quick drops to 5' and 10' to warm up with . I have occasional trouble making repetitive dives in shallow water .

April 26, 2014, 05:44:01 AM #12

Quote from: batt on April 24, 2014, 08:59:56 AM

I make sure that I can pop my ears on the surface before trying it at 5'. A couple of quick drops to 5' and 10' to warm up with . I have occasional trouble making repetitive dives in shallow water .

I never thought that would be the case with you. You're such an awesome diver.
Thanks for sharing.

April 26, 2014, 09:11:21 AM #13

These are a couple of mask squeeze victims

They were probably scuba diving.....

I've been scuba diving to depths of up to 130 ft and never had this occur to me. Its probably because a combination of my experience, slower descent, constant clearing of mask and overall awareness.

When I experienced mask squeeze and ruptured my vessels it was minor and only in one eye compared to them. It was while free diving and only at 25 ft. It was my first time at that depth and lacked the experience to know better.

I now can dive a tad bit deeper with no problems whatsoever because of equalizing.

Mine looked more like I was really stoned in one eye for about a week

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