Descents - Comfortable Descent

In my last lesson, a discussion was made on how to do the 5 point descent. Let's do a quick review, 1) signal your buddy you are ready to "go down" with the OK sign, 2)look for a reference point for your location, 3) look at your dive watch for the start time of the dive (very important if you are not using a dive computer), 4) do a snorkel and regulator exchange, 5) lift the manual inflator from your BCD and deflate the air. This will allow you to be heavier than the water you displace (negatively buoyant) causing you to sink below the surface. From this point we will talk about how to do a comfortable descent.

As soon as your head goes under water you should equalize your ears. There are many ways to equalize your ears.

1. Equalize your ears early and often as you descent, every few feet. Don't wait for discomfort, that is too late. If you equalize often, you shouldn't feel discomfort.

2. Block your nose and gently blow through it. If you blow too hard, damage could result to your ear drums. This will not only end your dive, but could take months to heal. So, "gently" blow through your nose.

3. Swallow and wiggle your jaw from side to side.

4. Could do both of the above at the same time.

5. One thing that helps me at times is to lean my head to the side of the blocked ear, while pulling on my ear. This "loosens" up the space and may allow the pressures to become equal.

6. Add air to your mask through your nose. This prevents uncomfortable mask squeeze. In fact, you should do this procedure many times while at depth. This also helps keep water out of the bottom of the mask.

There are a few procedures you can do should you feel discomfort.
Ascend up a few feet till you feel no discomfort. At this depth, gently try to equalize your blocked ear. If you air space equalizes continue diving to depth while continueing the procedure. If you can not equalize, discontinue the dive. Signal your Divemaster or buddys that you are having ear problems and must ascend, and end the dive.

If you have cold, allergy or other congestion problems will cause you to have trouble equalizing your ears. Blocking off the air space with ears plugs or a tight fitting hood can cause problems. If your are wearing tight hood, as you descend reach in and allow some water to enter, this will prevent this from being the problem. I do not recommend diving while taking cold medications. If during the dive the medications wear off, you may have what we call a "reverse block". This is where you have a ear/air block on the ascent. Not a good thing. You need to exit the water, and the futher up you go causes more pain. So if you have cold, allergy....DO NOT DIVE AND DO NOT TAKE MEDICATIONS FOR IT WHILE DIVING.

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