First-Timer Questions
What Happens to Your Ears Underwater?
Pressure builds on your eardrums as you descend — here's how to equalize early, often, and pain-free.
As you descend, water pressure increases and pushes on your eardrums — you'll feel it. You relieve it by equalizing ('popping' your ears). The trick is to equalize early and often: start before you feel any pressure and repeat every 0.5 m, especially in the first 5 metres where pressure changes fastest.
- Why
- Pressure pushes on eardrums
- Most popular method
- Valsalva (pinch & blow)
- When
- Early and often
- Never
- Force it or dive congested
Why your ears feel pressure
Your middle ear is an air space behind the eardrum. As you descend, the surrounding water pressure rises and pushes the eardrum inward, which you feel as discomfort. Equalizing adds a little air to the middle ear to balance the pressure, relieving it instantly. Pressure changes most rapidly near the surface, which is why the first few metres matter most.
How to equalize: the techniques
- Valsalva (the most popular): gently pinch your nose and blow softly against it until your ears 'pop'. Be gentle — never force it.
- Toynbee: pinch your nose and swallow.
- Frenzel: pinch your nose and use your tongue to push air up — efficient and gentle, favoured by freedivers.
- Wiggle / swallow: moving your jaw or swallowing can help open the tubes.
The pro technique: early and often
- Equalize before you descend: Give a gentle equalization on the surface and as you start down — before you feel any pressure at all.
- Equalize every ~0.5 m: Don't wait for discomfort. Equalize continuously, especially in the first 5 metres where pressure changes fastest.
- Descend feet-first and slowly: An upright, controlled descent makes equalizing far easier than going down head-first.
- If it won't clear, ascend a little: Go up a metre or two to relieve the pressure, then try again gently. Never force your way deeper.
Never force it, and never dive congested. If you have a cold, sinus infection or blocked nose, your ears may not equalize — diving anyway risks a painful ear barotrauma. Forcing a hard Valsalva can also cause injury. Equalize gently, early and often, and if your ears won't clear, end the descent. There's no prize for pushing through pain.
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Get the Diving Standard appFrequently asked questions
How do you equalize your ears when scuba diving?
The most common method is the Valsalva: gently pinch your nose and blow softly until your ears pop. Do it early and often — before you feel pressure and every half-metre, especially in the first 5 m.
Why do my ears hurt when I dive?
Increasing water pressure pushes on your eardrums as you descend. The pain means you haven't equalized enough. Ascend slightly, equalize gently, then continue. Never push deeper through ear pain.
Can I dive with a cold or blocked nose?
No. Congestion can stop your ears equalizing and cause painful barotrauma. Wait until you're clear before diving, and never force equalization.