Tips To Help You Clear Your Ears And Equalize

If you have problems equalizing, we have some ear scuba diving tips for you to try.
As we all know, if you can't clear those ears, there won't be any diving.
Equalizing problems are not all that uncommon and I have seen many a diver have trouble getting down on their first try. It can be very frustrating - not to mention painful.
Hopefully these tips on how to clear your ears will make your descent easier and safer.
The most common method of clearing your ears is called the Valsalva maneuver. To perform this, you close your mouth, pinch your nostrils closed and gently blow through your nose.
If you are a certified scuba diver, this is the basic method they teach you in class. And it does work for many people.

However, if you are having problems, try these ear scuba diving tips to help you descend safely:

Start on the Surface

Before you even go under the water, start your equalization method. If you are using the Valsalva manoeuvre, gently blow through your nose while you are waiting to start your descent. This "pre-pressurizes" the ear and makes equalization easier upon descent.

Descend Feet First

If you are descend with your head first, it affects the Eustachian tube and makes it harder to equalize your ears.

If you are descend with your head first, it affects the Eustachian tube and makes it harder to equalize your ears.

Equalize Early and Often 

This should be familiar from your scuba certification class. We are taught to begin equalizing as soon as your head goes underwater and continue equalizing every few feet.

However, as stated above, I would take it one step further and begin equalizing before you even go under. Pinch your nose and blow through your nose while you are still on the surface.

Then once you go under, continue equalizing all the way down. Don't stop even if you have equalized. Keep on blowing until you have reached your desired depth with clear ears.

This is probably the most important step to descending without ear problems. If you are having problems clearing one ear, tilt your head - with the blocked ear toward the surface.

Ascend If Not Clearing

If your ears are not clearing properly, ascend a few feet to reduce the pressure. Try clearing them again. If it still doesn't work, ascend a few more feet and try again. Rinse and repeat until you have cleared your ears successfully.

Do Not Force It

If you have tried ascending and it is not working, abort the dive. If you force yourself down, you can cause permanent ear injury.

In this same vein, if you are using the Valsalva method, do not blow forcefully. It should be a gentle blow. A forceful blow can also cause ear injury. It's better to forego a dive than have ear problems for the rest of your life. Probably the most important ear scuba diving tip to remember.

Do Not Dive With a Cold

Another mantra you probably heard in your certification class. Congestion can make equalization difficult. And even if you are able to descend, you run the risk of having problems during ascent, a condition called "reverse squeeze." This can also be caused by medications wearing off during the dive.

I know many divers take cold medicine and dive anyway. Just be aware of the risks if you take this route.

Prevent a Scuba Diving Mask From Fogging

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A foggy mask ruins an entire dive. Fog blocks a diver's view of the incredible underwater world and impedes communication between divers. Fog can be dangerous. A diver distracted by a foggy mask can lose track of his buoyancy or his surroundings. It is possible to prevent any mask from fogging. However, new masks and used masks must be treated in different ways.

New Scuba Diving Masks:

New scuba diving masks have residue left over from the manufacturing process coating the lens. Unless this coating is removed from the inside of the lens, the mask will constantly fog up no matter how much defogging agent is used. There are two good ways to remove the residue.

1. The Toothpaste Trick: Squirt toothpaste on the inside of the lens and rub it around with your finger or a soft cloth for a few minutes. The simpler the toothpaste, the better, so try to find a paste without bleaching agents and confetti. It may help to leave toothpaste in the mask overnight or to scrub the mask several times to allow the chemicals to react. Avoid using an extremely abrasive toothpaste or rough cloth, as these can scratch the inside of the glass.

2. The Flame Trick: Run the tip of a flame over the inside of the lens until the glass turns black, the flame will burn the residue off. A lighter or a tapered candle works well. Once the inside of the mask lens is totally black, wait for the mask to cool and wipe away the soot with a soft cloth. Repeat this process two or three times until it is difficult to get the glass to turn black. Do not allow the glass to become extremely hot, and do not attempt this trick on masks with plastic lenses (they will melt). Be sure to keep the flame away from the soft silicon skirt of the mask as it will melt with very little heat.

Used Scuba Diving Masks:

Masks should be treated with a defogging agent before every dive. If treatment with a defogging agent does not prevent the mask from fogging, it is possible that some residue is left over from the manufacturing process. Try the toothpaste or flame tricks to remove the remaining residue.

Any agent that prevents condensation from adhering to the inside of the mask's glass will keep the mask from fogging. See why defogging agents work. There are numerous options:

 3. Spit: Spit on the inside of the mask and rub it around with your finger. Dunk the mask briefly in fresh water. The goal is to leave thin layer of saliva on the inside of the glass. Spitting does not work well if the mask dries out before diving, so use this technique immediately before the dive.

4. Commercial Defogging Agents: Commercial defogging agents are specifically designed to coat a mask's lens, and many divers find these products more effective than spit. Put a few drops of the defogging liquid in the mask, rub it around with a finger, and rinse briefly with fresh water. Remember, the idea is to leave a thin layer of the defogging agent inside the mask, so do not rub out the defog when rinsing the mask.

5. Baby Shampoo: Baby shampoo can be used just like commercial defogging solution. Many divers carry a bottle of watered-down baby shampoo with their dive gear. A few drops rubbed into the lens and then briefly rinsed out will keep a mask from fogging. Baby shampoo is preferable to standard shampoo, as it is generally hypo-allergenic, less irritating to eyes, and biodegradable. Baby shampoo smells good, too.

6. Glycerin Soaps and Dish Washing Detergents: Glycerin soaps and dish washing detergents can be used the same way as baby shampoo. Put a few drops on the inside of the mask, rub them in, and rinse briefly. If a mask leaks, it is possible that the water will carry whatever defogging agent is used into the diver's eyes. The one problem with these products is that they really burn the eyes. Glycerin soap and dish washing detergents sometimes are not biodegradable. Be sure to not dump any non-biodegradable defogging agents into the water.

7. Toothpaste: Rub a non-abrasive toothpaste on the inside of the mask lens until it coats the glass completely. Rinse the mask gently with fresh water until the lens is clear. If a diver is highly sensitive to minty fragrances, the air inside the mask may burn his eyes or cheeks during the dive. Before diving for the first time after using toothpaste as a defogging agent, wear the mask for a few minutes to make sure the fragrance is not irritating.

8. Potatoes: A cut potato rubbed on the inside of a mask lens has been said to keep a mask from fogging. Rub the potato on the glass, rinse briefly, and dive. This method is a bit of a diving urban legend, but feel free to test it out the next time there is a potato and a knife handy before the dive.

How to Create Circular Bubbles While Diving

Skilled divers can blow bubbles that grow as they go up, to end in an elegant swirl. This article will show you how to do it safely. With practice, you'll produce a series of rings, receiving silent but enthusiastic applause from spectators underwater or on the surface.

Step 1
Lie still on your back on a sandy bottom with the depth varying from 2 to 6 meters. If you go deeper than 6 meters, this trick becomes more difficult.

 

Step 2
Take a normal breath from your regulator  and tip your head a bit back so your mouth is parallel to the surface. (It is not recommended that you try this trick without a regulator unless you are an expert free diver).

 

Step 3
Start with a closed mouth. Make a short and decisive air burst, coming from your swollen cheeks (not from your lungs as with cigarette smoke rings), opening your mouth with round lips. To give you an idea, try to say the word “PUH” with swollen cheeks. Do NOT do anything with your tongue. The amount of air is of less importance. Using less air makes the rings thinner.

  

 

Step 4
Watch the bubbles and adjust your technique. At the beginning you'll see normal bubbles coming out of your mouth. Some will start to form a ring of small bubbles and that means you're on the right track. Soon you'll create your first intact ring!

  

 

Tips

• This is a great alternate activity to entertain you and friends if you weren't able to see any fish during the dive.
• Try this in calm water. Water turbulence makes it difficult. Often turbulence is caused by people close by, or by moving hands or fins. It is possible, however, to do it with a slight current, but you'll need to adjust the direction of your mouth slightly in the direction of the current. Look at where the previous bubbles have gone to have an indication of the right direction.

 

Warnings

• Between one try and the other, give yourself a rest. Don’t continue for more than a few minutes. You disturb your normal breathing pattern, having influence on the body's oxygen supply. If you become light headed or have any disturbances in your vision, STOP immediately!
• Don’t count the time bubble making as part of a safety stop. You don’t have exchange of breathing gas, so you don’t get rid of the excess nitrogen (off-gassing), thus reducing the effectiveness of your safety stop.
• You've got to be negatively buoyant (sink) on a sandy and flat bottom. In any other situation you risk a lung burst or you could damage coral. Don't attempt this if you find yourself too light, like with a nearly empty tank at the end of a dive.
• Scuba diving is a safe sport, but only after adequate training, using the right equipment and following the rules you learned, all related to the conditions you dive in. The vast majority of accidents happen for not respecting these basics.
• If you put in practice what is described here, it will always be at your own risk. If you explain it to anybody else, include the mentioned risks.
• Make sure you hold your regulator in your hand, so you can get to it if you need it.
• Be sure you've gained a bit of experience before and feel comfortable under water (let's say 20 dives minimum). Practice it in a pool first.
• Using compressed air (scuba diving) can lead to a lung over-expansion injury (lung burst or pneumothorax if you ascend while holding your breath. Never try this while swimming or with high waves. This "trick" requires though to hold your breath momentarily. Fill your lungs only partially, not completely. It gives you some safety margin. Do not ascend while holding your breath. Not even a bit. The lungs do not sense pain when over-expanded, the diver receives no warning to prevent the injury.

Maximize Your Scuba Dive

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are some steps you can take to maximize your dive

Steps

1.       Learn to breathe. This is a bit of a tricky tip, as one of the major rules of scuba diving is to never hold your breath.

-          Breathe naturally. It may sound counterintuitive, but the more you focus on how you're breathing, the faster you'll run through your air. The best way to avoid focusing on breathing is focus on what you're doing and seeing instead. You're SCUBA diving, enjoy the experience!

-          Since you're keeping neutrally buoyant (if you're not, remember what you learned about adding and dumping air from your BCD), your breathing will also control whether you rise or fall in the water. It's okay to pay attention to your breathing occasionally for this purpose.

-          Under no circumstances should you hold your breath for more than a second or two. This risks both lung overexpansion injuries (i.e. popping like a balloon), and messing with your blood CO2 levels.

-          Staying calm helps your body require less oxygen. A new diver will have a hard time keeping enough air in the tank to stay down with an experienced diver. This is mainly because the experienced diver is more comfortable under the water, although fitness plays a large role there as well. If you find yourself breathing shallowly or rapidly, take a moment to make your breaths slower and deeper.

 

2.       Use dive computers. Most certified scuba divers are trained using dive tables to monitor blood-nitrogen levels. This allows you get a value to determine how deep you can take your dives and for how long.

 

-          The problem with the dive tables is that they are based on your maximum depth (or a few depths depending on the table). This is not very accurate because while you may take 90% of your dive at 40ft. if you go for a couple minutes at 70ft., you will use the tables as if you were at 70ft. for the whole dive.

-          Dive computers keep track of your depth many times every minute (if not every second) and calculate your blood-nitrogen levels much more accurately. Dive computers also incorporate your safety stop and your surface time to allow the maximum amount of "bottom time".

 

3.       Swim using only your Fins. Scuba divers wear fins not only to compensate for the added drag of all the equipment worn, but also to allow swimming to be done more efficiently.

-          Efficiency is the key to get the most bottom time; exerting less energy means you breathe less air. Seasoned divers will usually tuck or fold their arms in a streamline fashion and only use their arms for stabilization or when reaching to touch or grab something.

-          Swim with relatively straight and stiff legs to maximize thrust. Steer with your legs and fins, and use your lung volume to help ease ascending or descending.

-          Avoid rapid kicks with your knees bent, or "doggie paddling." This technique is inefficient, using up more of your air for less movement, and you have much less control of your fins. I've been on many dives in which a doggie paddler kicked and killed a beautiful piece of coral or stirred up the sand so visibility became terrible for everyone.

-          Try to avoid using your hands while swimming. This is tricky, especially for beginner divers. But as you improve your buoyancy control and learn to do most of your moving around with your fins, you will come to rely less on your hands for stability and fine angle control. Observe your dive master next time; he's likely swimming with his arms crossed, laid out horizontally on his belly, stretched out to full length. Aim to emulate that.

 

4.       Stay in shape. Scuba diving is a very forgiving sport; it is low impact and does not require extreme exertion, but body fat hinders you in more way than one.

-          Body fat increases buoyancy, thus more weight on the dive belt is needed. Larger bodies require larger wetsuits which are harder to get a good fit, and also adds buoyancy.

-          Being in shape also allows you to swim with less drag and less effort (for all the reasons mentioned in the swim with your fins section. Additionally, body fat, while mostly inert, uses oxygen to survive, and wastes the oxygen your muscles could be using.

-          A strong diver will also exert less energy than a weak diver, thus requiring less oxygen.

5.      Keep well hydrated and not fatigued. Dehydration is a dangerous state to be in while scuba diving. The filtered air your breathe from the tank is very dry (it must be, to prevent the tank from rusting), and your are exerting a good deal of energy while swimming, in turn, you are sweating.

 

-          Dehydration will increase the amount of air required to swim because your red blood cells are not working to their fullest. Scuba diving while dehydrated has also been shown to increase blood-nitrogen levels.

-          Diving while fatigued is also not a good idea. This can lead to even greater fatigue or exhaustion and can cause cramps or other serious problems underwater. Don't push yourself too hard, you want your mind and body to be top notch before you get into the water.

-          Diving with a cold can be risky if your ears and sinuses are involved. If you decide to do this, go very slowly and return to the surface if you're unable to equalize. No dive is worth burst eardrums!

6.      Be the first ones in the water. When diving off a public boat with other divers, make sure you and your diving buddy are suited up and ready to get wet as soon as you are allowed to get in the water, try to be in the water first.

-          Getting in the water first will keep you from sweltering in your wetsuit topside any longer than you have to. You'll also get to be one of the first down, which means you won't miss a thing.

7.      Remain as shallow as possible without missing anything. The shallower you are, the less amount of compressed nitrogen is entering your blood stream and each breath uses a lower percentage of the air from your tank. This allows you to stay down longer on this tank, and the reduced nitrogen allows you to stay down longer on subsequent dives.

-          Don't miss anything important or amazing though. Being able to stay underwater for a long time without seeing anything isn't much fun, so be sure you stay deep enough to enjoy the beauty and wonder of the sea!

 

8.      Use a snorkel on the surface instead of the regulator. With a snorkel you can already take a look to the bottom from the surface, while waiting for your buddies. Sometimes it's necessary to make a surface swim before you descend. Most people without a snorkel swim backwards in that case, as long as you don't use your regulator while you're still at the surface.

Dive Computer? Why? What?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Since back in the 80's dive computers have been revolutionising the way that we dive. Before the dive computer came along you would calculate your dive time based on the maximum depth you were diving to.

The dive computer changed this significantly by being able to calculate your max dive time based on the actual dive allowing Multilevel diving. Modern dive computers update you constantly on how much time you have left, based on your current depth.
Essentially this allows you to remain underwater for longer in safety with potentially shorter safety stops.

Computer Aided Diving

A dive computer should not replace your dive tables but should be used in conjunction with your tables. Dive computers today are incredibly reliable but like any computer, they can go wrong and without a good idea of what should be displaying how will you know?
For example you should know that if the maximum dive depth is 30m, when you get there your dive computer should be showing around 20 minutes and that if it shows 60 minutes there must be something wrong. This is the difference between computer aided diving and computer dependent diving. The only practical back up to a dive computer is PADI RDP Wheel which can allow you to plan a multilevel dives and all divers should consider buying and learning how to use one

 Air or Nitrox?

When purchasing a dive computer your first choice is to decide whether now or in the future you will want to dive on nitrox (Enriched Air)?
If there is even the slightest chance you will, then you should only consider computers which have nitrox diving facility to save money in the future. The difference in price is only slight and most manufacturers are now starting to produce all computers with nitrox diving capabilities.
Remember if a dive computer can calculate nitrox then they can also calculate air diving (to the computer, air is considered nitrox 21).

PC Integration

You may want to consider not only logging your dives in your log book but also on your PC.  All major manufacturers now have models that can download your dive data to your PC. This allows you to see your whole dives in profile and provides extra information not normally accessible via the dive computer itself. Some computers are now including the download software whilst with others you have to purchase them separately. Amazingly (and infuriatingly!) some interfaces still have the old fashioned serial connector for which you may need to purchase separate a serial to USB connector.

How Dive Computers Work

Decompression sickness is still not completely understood and it must be remembered that a dive computer will not make you immune to decompression illnesses. The saying "if you want guarantees, buy a washing machine" possibly sums up the general consensus. However dive computers do improve your likeliness of having a safe dive.   They work on a mathematical algorithm (such as the Suunto RGBM) which classifies tissues within your body into similar compartments within the algorithm - some as fast tissues (such as brain and heart which have a lot of blood flow) and others as slow (such as bones which have relatively little blood flow).

It then takes time submerged and your depth and calculates how long you can safely remain underwater. This is a very simplistic explanation however more complex calculation and more detail are explained in many books on the subject or take a specific course if you wish to learn more.

Air Integration

With an air integrated dive computer you have another great benefit in that the computer can also calculate your breathing rate, telling you how much time you have left to dive at your current air consumption. This facility also allows the computer to monitor and learn your breathing rates so that if the current is behind you and your breathing slows, the computer can rightly calculate that you absorb less nitrogen and therefore you can remain underwater longer. Air integrated dive computers can either be hosed or hoseless (via a transmitter on the first stage).

Wrist Or Console Mounted?

The fashion in the UK is for wrist mounted computers whereas in most other areas console mounted computers are the norm. There are arguments for both systems but here are a couple of points you should consider before deciding which would suit you best:

·         Console mounted computers are larger and are attached to your equipment via a hose. This makes them less likely to be mislaid.

·         Console mounted computers use battery power even if only training in the pool meaning the more you practice, the more you will spend on batteries.

·         A console mounted dive computer is not necessarily an air integrated dive computer. The pressure gauge in your console requires a connection to your tank in order to show a pressure reading, but this does not mean that the computer is connected to the air source too.

·         Wrist mounted computers can be used for other purposes such as free diving, they can also be used from day to day depending on the model

Alarms
Most dive computers will have visual and audible alarms to warn you when you get close to a limit, such as no stop time approaching, fast ascent etc. These are very useful especially for new divers to remind them to look at their computer! You should read your manual to ensure you understand what the alarms mean.

General Safety

There are a few basic considerations with using a dive computer which you should be aware of:

·         Read the instruction manual thoroughly before using the computer.

·         Never share a dive computer; if one of the buddy pair is not diving on a computer you must abide by your dive tables.

·         Do not "ride the zero", this is waiting for the no stop time on your dive computer and then ascending a few metres and waiting again to stay underwater longer. Although a dive computer is meant to extend your dive time this is pushing your luck.

·         Remember, to help avoid decompression illnesses follow the common sense suggestions you learned in training, avoid dehydration, alcohol etc.

 Battery Changes

Modern dive computers are generally made with user changeable batteries. However only a few have watertight battery chambers meaning that if you fit the battery wrongly and it floods, the whole computer is ruined.  For this reason most divers still return their computers to service centres such as ours for battery changes and servicing. Although more expensive than doing it yourself, having professionals do it is much less expensive than a new dive computer.

 Screen Guards

Screen guards are now fitted on most dive computers to stop the screen getting scratched. These guards will quickly become very scratched and although difficult to read on dry land once submerged the scratches virtually disappear. However if the guard becomes too scratched or cracked replacements are available.

Suunto RGBM

Reduced Gradient Bubble Model. The Suunto Reduced Gradient Bubble Model is a state of the art algorithm for managing both dissolved gas and free-gas in all its stages in the tissues and blood of the diver. It is a significant advance on the classical Haldane models, which do not predict free-gas (microbubbles). The advantage of Suunto RGBM is a more accurate representation of what is happening in the diver's body, through its ability to adapt to a wide variety of situations. The Suunto RGBM addresses a number of diving circumstances that have not been considered by previous dissolved gas models, adapting to:

·         Continuous multiday diving

·         Closely spaced repetitive dives

·         Dives deeper than the previous dive

·         Rapid ascents which produce high microbubble build up

The Suunto RGBM algorithm automatically adapts its predictions of both the effects of microbubble build up and adverse dive profiles in the current dive series. It will further modify these calculations according to the personal adjustment that a diver can select. Essentially when you dive you take on gas, this is called on-gasing. You need to off-gas for a sufficient time during surface intervals to avoid illness, the Suunto RGBM helps you to do this correctly.

Mask Mounted Computers

There is currently only one mask mounted computer available, however now the trend has started its sure to continue. Mask mounted computers have the advantage that you can keep an eye on your dive computer without any movement, this can be an advantage for technical divers or photographers who need to stay motionless. They work by having the screen for the computer mounted inside the mask.

Scuba diving therapy may aid physical and mental recovery

 

Suffering a major injury can be devastating. Not only does the injury affect a person’s physical well-being, but their mental health as well. While there are numerous therapies depending on the type of injury, more people are learning of the many benefits scuba diving may provide for those who suffer from a range of injuries.

Scuba diving provides a unique environment with many therapeutic characteristics that simply can’t be replicated on land. First, the weightlessness of being underwater may relieve physical pain and may help patients exercise in a more comfortable manner. Mental and emotional benefits abound also – it’s a place where patients may be able to focus, be more in control and feel a sense of achievement.

The freedom of diving

Scuba diving is also beneficial from a social perspective. Too often, people with major injuries may isolate themselves as they deal with new challenges. It may be difficult to socialize with loved ones and in society, especially at first. Scuba diving is always done with a “buddy” – an instructor or therapist, and sometimes even in groups. This encourages communication and bonding with others.

Whether a person was injured in an accident, as the result of disease, or is a veteran of war, scuba diving may help – and studies may point to this.

Ten paralyzed veterans were selected for the trial which was completed in the Cayman Islands in 2011 and training provided by PADI. Each veteran and also the researchers were trained with PADI Open Water Diver courses. Eight veterans completed the program; improvement averages include:

• 15% drop in muscle spasticity
• 10% increase in light touch sensitivity
• 5% jump in sensitivity to pinprick

If you or a loved one has suffered from a major, life-changing injury, scuba diving therapy may help in some situations. Importantly, talk with your doctor and therapists about your interest to see if this type of therapy is right for you.

Grotta Di Capo Meli - Sicily - Italy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a particularly striking cave. It is located in 'Marine Protected Area Plemmirio. This dive is a quite challenging one, with a max depth of 18 m, there are three contiguous chambers and the last two chamber can only be accessed through two narrow passages that sometimes are filled with sediment. When you are passing thru the last two chambers you will go a little blindly as you are obligated to creep and it is inevitable to raise the sediment. It has been placed permanently an Ariadne's thread that is definitely a great help.

 Dive Site Characteristics

 

Maximum Depth	24  Metres
Dive Entry Type	Beach/Shore
Water Environment Type	Cave/Cavern
Salinity	Salt Water
Primary Bottom Type	Sand
Average Rating