The pain you feel in your ears when descending is water pressure squeezing the air space behind your eardrum, and it has a simple, reliable fix called equalizing. As you go deeper, the pressure outside increases, and if you do not add a little air to the space behind the eardrum, that pressure pushes the eardrum inward and hurts. The solution is to equalize early and often, gently pushing air into that space before it ever starts to ache. Done correctly, your ears stay comfortable the whole way down, and it becomes an easy, automatic part of every descent.
Why it happens
Behind your eardrum is a small air space connected to your throat by a narrow tube. On land the pressure balances on its own, but underwater the rising pressure needs your help to stay balanced.
The discomfort is your body's early warning that the pressure is uneven. It is a signal to act, not something to push through.
Do this
Pinch your nose and blow gently, or swallow, every meter as you descend, before it ever hurts. Equalizing early and often is far easier than trying to catch up once discomfort starts.
If it does hurt, ascend a little to release the pressure, then try again more gently. Never force it, and never keep descending through pain.
Go slow and stay relaxed
A slow, controlled descent gives you all the time you need to equalize comfortably. There is never a race to the bottom, and your instructor sets a gentle pace for beginners.
Some people equalize easily, others need a little more attention, and both are perfectly normal. Practice makes it quick and natural.
When to skip a dive
If you have a cold, congestion or blocked sinuses, equalizing can be difficult or impossible, and forcing it can hurt you. On those days it is smarter to sit the dive out and try again another time.
Tell your instructor if your ears will not clear, and never feel pressured to continue. See our courses and dives and we will make sure your descent is comfortable and safe.
Anyone can learn it
Almost everyone can learn to equalize comfortably with a little practice, and you can even rehearse the gentle nose-pinch technique before your trip. The more relaxed you are, the easier it works.
If one ear is stubborn, tilting your head slightly toward the opposite shoulder often helps it clear. Small adjustments make a big difference.
