Dave wrote:
On 23 Feb 2006 12:45:49 -0800, "purple_stars" said:


when you do get good at equalization and get down to
like 30 feet or 40 feet or something, what happens if you accidentally
let your ears "pop". what i mean is, i understand that you have to
force air into your ears to keep from experiencing pain. sort of like
positive pressure inside.


Once you can control the muscles, you aren't really forcing air anywhere.
You're just opening up the passages so the air can pass through. Experienced
hardhat divers are almost constantly equalizing on the way down, so they
never experience what you call a "pop."


but what happens if you accidentally swallow
and all that pressure goes back into your throat, doesn't it go back to
the same pressure it was at the surface, won't it suddenly be like you
had never equalized at all ? or does it just let the ballooned air out
enough to be equalized with whatever depth you are at ?


Equalization always relates only to the difference in pressure between the
depth where you last equalized and the depth you're at. Surface pressure has
nothing to do with it at all.
I think one of you is talking with air (hard hat/scuba)and the other is
talking about holding your breath (free diving).