How to get your ears to pop after scuba diving

## How to Get Your Ears to Pop After Scuba Diving

Scuba diving is a fantastic way to explore the underwater world, but it can also cause your ears to pop. This is because the pressure of the water around you increases as you descend, and this pressure can squeeze your eustachian tubes, which are the tubes that connect your ears to your nose and throat. When your eustachian tubes are squeezed, they can’t equalize the pressure between your ears and the outside world, and this can cause your ears to pop.

There are a few things you can do to try to prevent your ears from popping while scuba diving. First, you can try to keep your eustachian tubes clear by swallowing, chewing, or yawning. You can also try using a nasal decongestant or taking a hot shower before diving. If your ears do start to pop, there are a few things you can do to try to get them to stop.

– Valasalva maneuver: This is the most common way to try to get your ears to pop. To perform the Valsalva maneuver, pinch your nose closed and blow gently out of your nose. This should force air back into your eustachian tubes and open them up.
– Toynbee maneuver: This is another way to try to get your ears to pop. To perform the Toynbee maneuver, swallow while pinching your nose closed. This should also force air back into your eustachian tubes and open them up.
– Frenzel maneuver: This is a more advanced maneuver that can be used to get your ears to pop. To perform the Frenzel maneuver, close your mouth and nostrils and try to push air out of your ears. This should help to open up your eustachian tubes.

If you’re having trouble getting your ears to pop, you may need to ascend to a shallower depth. This will reduce the pressure on your ears and make it easier to open up your eustachian tubes.

Here are some additional tips to help prevent and treat ear popping while scuba diving:

– Equalize early and often: Don’t wait until your ears start to pop to start equalizing the pressure. Start equalizing as soon as you start to descend, and continue to equalize throughout your dive.
– Use a dive mask with a purge valve: This will allow you to clear water from your mask without having to take it off, which can help to prevent your ears from popping.
– Descend slowly: This will give your ears more time to adjust to the increasing pressure.
– Take a break if you need to: If your ears start to pop, don’t try to push through it. Take a break and ascend to a shallower depth until your ears have equalized.
– See a doctor if you have persistent ear problems: If you have persistent ear problems, you should see a doctor. There may be an underlying medical condition that is causing your ears to pop.

Ear popping is a common problem for scuba divers, but it can be prevented and treated with the right techniques. By following these tips, you can help to keep your ears healthy and comfortable while scuba diving.

### How to Prevent Ear Popping While Scuba Diving

Keep your eustachian tubes clear by swallowing, chewing, or yawning.
Use a nasal decongestant or take a hot shower before diving.
Equalize early and often.
Use a dive mask with a purge valve.
Descend slowly.
Take a break if you need to.

### How to Treat Ear Popping While Scuba Diving

Perform the Valsalva maneuver.
Perform the Toynbee maneuver.
Perform the Frenzel maneuver.
Ascend to a shallower depth.
See a doctor if you have persistent ear problems.