Equalizing Techniques for Safe Descents
Master safe descent techniques with this beginner-friendly guide to equalizing your ears while scuba diving. Prevent discomfort and protect your hearing underwater.
SAFETY WHILE DIVING
Equalizing Techniques for Safe Descents
One of the first uncomfortable surprises for many new divers is that telltale pressure in your ears as you descend. If you don’t equalize early and often, you can risk serious pain—or worse, ear barotrauma. Thankfully, equalizing isn’t hard, but doing it correctly and consistently is key.
The most common method is the Valsalva maneuver—pinching your nose and gently blowing until your ears “pop.” It’s effective, but don’t force it. If it doesn’t work right away, stop descending, try again, and stay relaxed. Equalizing should never be painful. If it is, ascend slightly and give your ears time to adjust.
You can also try the Toynbee technique where you pinch your nose and swallow. There is also the Frenzel maneuver, which involves moving your tongue and throat muscles without using your lungs. Some divers even wiggle their jaws or move their heads slightly side to side to help open their Eustachian tubes.
The trick is to start equalizing before you feel discomfort. Try doing it at the surface and then every couple of feet as you descend. Waiting until your ears hurt is often too late and makes equalization harder. Make it a habit, not a reaction.
Another key tip: descend slowly and feet-first. This helps your ears adjust more naturally to the increasing pressure. If you’re having repeated trouble, consider using a descent line to control your pace better.
Finally, never dive with a cold or congestion. Blocked sinuses and swollen passages make equalizing much harder and risk serious complications. If your ears feel “off,” it’s better to postpone the dive than power through.
Being proactive about ear health not only makes diving more comfortable—it keeps you safe and protects your ability to enjoy the underwater world for years to come.
Happy and safe diving,
The ScubaBlast Team
Divers Alert Network. (n.d.). Equalizing techniques. Retrieved from https://dan.org/health-medicine/health-resources/diseases-conditions/equalizing-techniques/
PADI. (n.d.). Why can’t I equalize my ears? Retrieved from https://www.padi.com/articles/why-you-cant-equalize-your-ears
Scuba Diving Magazine. (2020). How to equalize your ears while scuba diving. Retrieved from https://www.scubadiving.com/training/basic-skills/how-to-equalize-your-ears-scuba-diving