ear pressure

[Dale]

according to this video:
http://www.uwtv.org/programs/displayevent.aspx?rID=2272

I should be actively pressurising my ears on descent, equalise them when I've reached my depth, and releasing pressure as I ascend.

true?

(and the video is an hour - and I don't suggest watching it when you're tired).

[owlbill]

Without watching the video, ........kinda yes.

Begin equalizing, not realing pressurizing, but balancing, before you decend, and all during decent. On ascent, the ears and all should take care of themselves, leaving only the BC to worry about.

Unless I missed something.

[JimC]

Thats what I do too.

Equalize early and often.. I start before I even put my face in the water. You might even call that 'pressurizing' and not 'equalizing' I suppose since I am likely putting a tiny amount of positive pressure in. But the ears take care of them selves on accent... and provide a very nice nasal purge. :)

[owlbill]

Funny, this thread has me thinking we need a "General" topic under Diving Techniques, that allows for posts like this, that pertain to all types of diving.

[Thread moved to new forum]

[Dale]

Thats what I do too.

Equalize early and often.. I start before I even put my face in the water. You might even call that 'pressurizing' and not 'equalizing' I suppose since I am likely putting a tiny amount of positive pressure in. But the ears take care of them selves on accent... and provide a very nice nasal purge. :)

the movie, from an ear doctor and veteran diver, said to use certain techniques to descend and certain ones to ascend, because you want to actively add pressure when descending - and you could harm your ears if you use the wrong techniques at the wrong time.

It just sounded so much more deliberate than the impression I was given.

thoughts?

[owlbill]

I will watch the video and report.