Ear discomfort is the number one reason new divers stop a descent. The good news: equalising is a skill, not a gift, and almost everyone gets it with a little practice.
1. The Valsalva manoeuvre
Pinch your nose and blow gently against it, as if you were trying to blow your nose with your mouth closed. It is the technique most divers learn first. Gentle is the key word — never force it.
2. The Toynbee manoeuvre
Pinch your nose and swallow. The swallowing motion opens the Eustachian tubes and lets air move into the middle ear. It works well for divers who find blowing uncomfortable.
3. The Frenzel manoeuvre
Close your throat as if lifting something heavy, pinch your nose and push your tongue up and back like saying the letter K. It uses very little effort and is the favourite of freedivers and experienced scuba divers.
Equalise early and often: every metre on the way down, before you feel any pressure at all.
When to stop
- If one ear will not clear, ascend a metre or two and try again
- Never dive with a cold or congestion
- Descend feet first — it makes equalising easier
