Beginner 9 minutes
The ear and equalizing: where most dives get ruined
Anatomy, equalizing techniques, and the rule of never forcing it
The most common problem in diving isn't a lack of air or a current: it's a tube just a few centimeters long that connects the middle ear to the throat. When that tube doesn't open, the dive ends before it begins.
In this article you'll learn the anatomy of the ear, why pressure affects it so much, the main equalizing techniques and how they differ, and what to do (and what to never do) when something isn't working.
Ear problems are among the most common causes of aborted dives and injuries in recreational diving. Almost all of them are preventable with technique and judgment.
Three ears in one
The outer ear is the pinna and the ear canal, which ends at the eardrum. While diving, it fills with water, so its pressure equalizes on its own with the surrounding pressure, as long as nothing blocks it.
The middle ear is an air-filled cavity located on the other side of the eardrum. It has no contact with the water, and its only connection to the outside is the Eustachian tube, a duct that links it to the back of the throat. This is where almost all the trouble happens.
The inner ear contains the cochlea, responsible for hearing, and the vestibular system, responsible for balance and the perception of position and movement. It's filled with fluid, not air, and is separated from the middle ear by two delicate membranes: the oval window and the round window.
The logic of the problem is straightforward. As you descend, water pressure increases and pushes the eardrum inward. If no air enters the middle ear to equalize that pressure, first discomfort appears, then pain, and finally injury.
Keep reading with full access
This article is part of the full Encyclopedia. A donation from USD 10 unlocks every article, every species photo and the downloadable app, and helps sustain the Scuba Sign Paperless Diving Community project.