How to Equalize Ears Scuba Diving | 4 Techniques | WeGoDive
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How to Equalize Your Ears When Scuba Diving (All 4 Techniques Explained)
Ear equalization is the top reason dive students quit—but it's completely learnable. Master the Valsalva, Frenzel, Toynbee, and Less Common Method with our practical guide.
March 14, 20266 min read min readBy WeGoDive Team
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How to Equalize Your Ears When Scuba Diving (All 4 Techniques Explained)
Ear equalization ends more dive courses than anything else — but it's a learnable skill. The complete guide: why it hurts, Valsalva vs Frenzel vs Toynbee, what to do when stuck, and when to stop.
Most new divers feel pain in their ears within the first 3 metres of descent. That's pressure. Every 10 metres of depth adds another atmosphere of pressure pushing on your eardrums. Your body can't auto-adjust like it does for air spaces in your sinuses — you have to manually equalize the middle ear by forcing air up the Eustachian tube. Skip this step and you'll surface with burst capillaries, fluid in the middle ear, or worse: a ruptured eardrum.
The good news: equalization is a skill, not a talent. Most divers master it in the confined water session before their first open water dive. The frustration comes from not knowing technique works for your anatomy, and not knowing what "stuck" actually feels like versus "normal pressure".
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This post covers all four main equalization methods, how to practice them on dry land, what to do when one stops working at depth, and when to call the dive.
TL;DR
Equalize early and often starting at 1 metre — don't wait until you feel pain. Pain means damage is already happening.
Valsalva (pinch nose, blow gently) is the most common but can trap you at depth. Frenzel (throat muscles, no nose pinch) is safer once you learn it.
Toynbee (pinch nose, swallow) and BTV (blow-try-swallow) work for some divers but require practice. One method will feel natural — find it before your first ocean dive.
If equalization fails at 15+ metres, ascend slowly and try again in shallower water. Forcing it risks permanent ear damage; 8% of divers experience some barotrauma on their first course.
Why Your Ears Hurt: The Pressure Problem
Your middle ear is an air-filled space behind your eardrum. At the surface, air pressure inside equals pressure outside — equilibrium. The moment you descend, water pressure increases and pushes inward on your eardrum. Your Eustachian tube (a small channel connecting your middle ear to the back of your throat) can open to let air flow up and equalize, but it doesn't open automatically.
Sunlight beams pierce through the clear water, illuminating the reef
If you force pressure to build for more than a few seconds, capillaries burst and fluid seeps into the middle ear space. Divers call this barotrauma. At 10 metres, the pressure difference is roughly 2 kg of force pressing on your eardrum. At 20 metres, it's 4 kg. Keep descending without equalizing and you reach a "squeeze" — the eardrum is pulled inward so hard it tears.
The solution: pump air into your middle ear by using your throat and facial muscles to open your Eustachian tube. There are four proven ways to do this.
Technique 1: Valsalva Maneuver (The Most Common)
Valsalva is what most instructors teach first. Pinch your nose shut, close your mouth, and blow gently — like you're inflating a small balloon. You should feel (and hear) a subtle pop or pressure release in your ears as air pushes up the Eustachian tube.
Why it works: the pressure from your lungs forces air directly up the tube.
Why it's tricky: Valsalva works great in the pool and the first 5–10 metres underwater. But at depth, the water pressure outside grows faster than your lungs can pressurize air inside. You can get "stuck" — you blow but nothing happens, and now you're anxious at 20 metres with a squeezed ear and no relief. Some divers panic here.
How to practice on dry land: pinch your nose, close your mouth, blow for 2 seconds. Stop. You should feel a pressure change in your ears. Do this 10 times sitting on your couch. If you can feel it, you can do it underwater.
Red flag: if you feel sharp pain (not pressure), stop immediately. Sharp = damage is occurring.
Technique 2: Frenzel Maneuver (The Safer Deep Bet)
Frenzel is the technique that frees you from depth limitations. Pinch your nose closed, keep your mouth closed, and use your throat muscles to push air up — similar to how you'd make a clicking sound with your tongue or throat. No blowing from your lungs required.
Hard coral formations showing the intricate structure of a healthy reef
Why it works: you're using throat muscle pressure, not lung pressure, so it works at any depth. Elite divers and technical divers rely on Frenzel for this reason.
Why it's harder to learn: there's no external sensation — you're not blowing air, so you don't feel the same immediate "relief" pop that Valsalva gives. It takes 2–4 weeks of practice before Frenzel feels natural.
How to practice on dry land: Pinch your nose. Keep your mouth closed. Try to say "K" or click your tongue — use that throat muscle engagement to push air up. You may or may not feel an ear pop. That's fine. Keep practicing. Many divers report it clicks on day 7–10 of daily practice.
Why instructors don't always teach it first: it requires pre-course practice. Most divers want to equalize on their first confined water dive, so they learn Valsalva first, then switch to Frenzel once they're comfortable underwater.
Technique 3: Toynbee Maneuver (Niche but Solid)
Toynbee: pinch your nose and swallow. The swallowing motion creates a slight pressure change that can open your Eustachian tube.
Why it works: your throat muscles naturally activate during a swallow, mimicking what Frenzel does but with an added physical action.
Why it's less common: it requires swallowing while descending, which feels unnatural in water. Also, if you're nervous or your mouth is dry, swallowing becomes difficult.
Who it works for: some divers with naturally open Eustachian tubes find Toynbee is enough. Others use it as a secondary method when Valsalva or Frenzel alone isn't opening the tube fully.
How to practice on dry land: pinch your nose and swallow hard. You should feel slight ear pressure. Less dramatic than Valsalva, but it works for some anatomy.
Technique 4: BTV (Blow-Try-Swallow)
BTV is a hybrid: blow (Valsalva) for 1–2 seconds, then try (push using Frenzel throat muscles), then swallow. It's a three-step backup when one method alone isn't working.
The pristine sandy beaches of Koh Tao, Thailand
Why it exists: some divers' Eustachian tubes are stubborn and need multiple signals to open. BTV gives your body three chances in sequence.
How to practice: this isn't a primary technique, so don't spend weeks on it. But in the confined water session, if your instructor notices Valsalva alone isn't clearing your ears fully, ask about BTV.
What to Do When Equalization Fails
You're at 18 metres. You try Valsalva. Nothing happens. You're feeling pressure and slight pain. What now?
First: do not force it. Do not blow harder. Your eardrum cannot handle force.
Instead: ascend slowly (at a rate of 10 metres per minute) back to 5 metres. Stop. Try again. At shallower depth, water pressure is lower and your lungs can equalize more easily. Often, getting back to 5 metres and trying Valsalva or Frenzel works immediately.
If it works at 5 metres: descend more slowly this time, equalizing every 50 cm instead of every metre. Slow descent = you catch the pressure change before it becomes a squeeze.
If it doesn't work even at 5 metres: surface. Do not push deeper. Your Eustachian tube may be swollen from congestion, a cold, or sinus pressure. One dive isn't worth permanent damage. Surface, rest, try again tomorrow.
Note: roughly 8% of recreational divers experience some barotrauma during their first open water course. Most cases are mild (bruised capillaries, slight fluid buildup) and resolve in 3–5 days. Severe cases (ruptured eardrum) can take weeks and require medical attention. Prevention (equalize early, ascend if stuck) is 100% effective.
Red Flags: When to Stop and Surface
Sharp pain in the ear (not pressure, but acute pain): surface immediately. Dull pressure is normal; sharp pain means tissue is tearing.
Vertigo or dizziness during descent: surface and rest. This can indicate inner ear barotrauma, which is rare but serious.
Ear blocked after surfacing (can't hear, muffled sounds): mild barotrauma. Rest 24–48 hours before diving again.
Blood or fluid from the ear after a dive: seek a doctor before diving again.
Can't equalize at all, even in shallow water on day 1: congestion, sinus infection, or cold. Wait 3–5 days and retry. Diving with a cold is one of the most common causes of barotrauma.
Questions to Ask Your Instructor Before Your First Dive
"Which technique should I start with?" (Usually Valsalva, but your instructor may have a reason to start differently.)
"How often should I equalize?" (Answer: every 30–50 cm of descent, before you feel pressure.)
"What does 'stuck' feel like?" (Have them explain the squeeze sensation so you recognize it underwater.)
"Can I practice on dry land first?" (Yes. Spend 5 minutes the day before your confined water session.)
"If I feel pain, what's the signal to surface?" (Most instructors will say: pain = ascend immediately.)
The Bottom Line
Equalization isn't something you should master — it's something you will master, because the alternative (surfacing) isn't fun. One confined water session is usually enough to find the technique that works for your anatomy. Valsalva is fastest to learn; Frenzel is more reliable at depth. Most instructors teach Valsalva first, and most recreational divers stick with it.
The real skill isn't the technique itself — it's the habit of equalizing early and often, before pressure builds. Descend slowly. Equalize every 50 cm. Stop before pain arrives. These three rules prevent 99% of equalization problems.
If you're anxious about ear issues before your course, practice Valsalva on dry land for a week. Spend 5 minutes the day before your confined water dive. Come prepared and equalization becomes a non-issue by your second dive.
When you're ready to book your open water course, compare certified dive schools in your destination on WeGoDive — you'll find instructors who are experienced with students who struggle with equalization, and schools with pools where you can take as long as you need to get it right.
Tags
Ear equalizationScuba diving basicsOpen water courseBeginner DivingBarotrauma prevention
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best ear equalization technique for beginner scuba divers?▾
The Valsalva maneuver (pinch nose, blow gently) is easiest for beginners, while the Frenzel technique (throat muscles, no nose pinch) is safer for deeper dives and harder to over-pressurize. Most divers eventually transition to Frenzel once they master the basics.
Can scuba diving cause permanent ear damage if you don't equalize properly?▾
Yes—skipping equalization causes barotrauma, ranging from burst capillaries to a ruptured eardrum, which can result in permanent hearing loss. About 8% of new divers experience some level of barotrauma during their first course without proper equalization technique.
What should you do if you can't equalize your ears while diving?▾
Stop your descent, retry equalization in shallower water, and ascend slowly if it fails—never force it, as this risks permanent damage. If equalization still fails below 15 metres, it's safer to end the dive and try again on the next one.
When should you start equalizing your ears during a scuba dive?▾
Begin equalizing at just 1 metre of depth and repeat every 60 centimetres as you descend—equalize before you feel pressure or pain, since waiting until it hurts means tissue damage is already happening. Early and frequent equalization is the key to preventing barotrauma.
Valsalva vs Frenzel: which ear equalization method is best for scuba diving?▾
The Valsalva is easier to learn initially, but the Frenzel technique is safer for depth and less likely to over-pressurize your ears. Most divers find one method feels natural during practice on dry land before their first ocean dive.
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