Don W wrote:
Well, I guess experiences vary with the individual. My main
point was that if the poster (purple stars) was experiencing
pain trying to free-dive he should be very careful and learn
to equalize the pressure or he would get to learn about
barotrauma from a medical specialist ;-) The time I think
I hurt my ears I was in about 12 feet of water at Stingray
City in Grand Cayman. It was a long time ago, but the
tinnitus is with me still sigh.

PS - I agree with you that its much easier to equalize ascending
rather than descending.

Don W.

My experience is different. When free diving you can't equalize because
you don't have an air feed at ambient pressure. (Your last breath was at
the surface) Unless I am not understanding the term "free diving" which
I believe means diving without tanks. I that case the air inside your
body gets compressed as you descend and you can't equalize by taking in
more air.

Gary

My experience is different. When free diving you can't equalize because
you don't have an air feed at ambient pressure. (Your last breath was at
the surface) Unless I am not understanding the term "free diving" which
I believe means diving without tanks. I that case the air inside your
body gets compressed as you descend and you can't equalize by taking in
more air.

Gary

Hi Gary:
Hope I can add a bit of clairity.......... when decending at 75 fps:

Using sport SCUBA
Using "hard hat" either open simi or closed demand or a free flow pot.
Using nothing but your skin (freediving).

To equalize/clear ears need to have the inside preasure abot the same
as water preasure pushing on ear drum. How to do that? With iincreasig
preasure from decent use muscles to force a presure increase. As decent
continues so does presure. And will need to eqalize ears to new and
increasing water preasure. ANalogy wold be to squeeze a balloon with
hands.
Bob

Bob wrote:

My experience is different. When free diving you can't equalize because
you don't have an air feed at ambient pressure. (Your last breath was at
the surface) Unless I am not understanding the term "free diving" which
I believe means diving without tanks. I that case the air inside your
body gets compressed as you descend and you can't equalize by taking in
more air.

Gary


Hi Gary:
Hope I can add a bit of clairity.......... when decending at 75 fps:

Using sport SCUBA
Using "hard hat" either open simi or closed demand or a free flow pot.
Using nothing but your skin (freediving).

To equalize/clear ears need to have the inside preasure abot the same
as water preasure pushing on ear drum. How to do that? With iincreasig
preasure from decent use muscles to force a presure increase. As decent
continues so does presure. And will need to eqalize ears to new and
increasing water preasure. ANalogy wold be to squeeze a balloon with
hands.
Bob

Bob,
I understand all that. I have had a diving licence for 26 years. What
I am saying is you can't equalize when freediving . You can't increase
the volume of air inside your ears to the ambient pressure level when
you took your last breath at the surface (well maybe a tiny bit).

When free diving you can't equalize because
you don't have an air feed at ambient pressure.

Of course you do. Every bit of air inside you
(except for that in the unequalized middle ear)
is at ambient pressure.

Chris

Chris wrote:
When free diving you can't equalize because
you don't have an air feed at ambient pressure.


Of course you do. Every bit of air inside you
(except for that in the unequalized middle ear)
is at ambient pressure.

Chris

You are right but it is decreasing in volume as your body is compressed.
Equalizing is normally understood to be taking new air in at ambient
pressure to equalize in your ears and lungs etc. That is why you
shouldn't hold your breath ascending after breathing pressurized air.
You'll embolize.

You are right but it is decreasing in volume as your body is compressed.
Air is compressed, never your body. That's how you survive skin diving.

Equalizing is normally understood to be taking new air in at ambient
pressure to equalize in your ears and lungs etc.
No. Equalizing is shifting a fraction of a ml of air into our out of
your middle ear, all within you, no brearthing (in or out) required.

That is why you
shouldn't hold your breath ascending after breathing pressurized air.
Completely different story.

You'll embolize.
Yet another story.