Hi Bauermn,
Equalisation is a very personal thing. Each diver has a different physiological make-up which will require different nuisances to make a dive comfortable. Yet, there are common methods we use to dive deeper, so I may be able to provide some advice...
I do assume that you are not using any form of earplug as this will have a big impact on your ears and as I don't dive with them will pretty much negate any experience and info I have. Also, ear infections and other ailments will make the info pretty much useless. If you think you may have an infection or ailment of some sort rather go see you dive doc then trying to experiment and possibly stuffing up your auditory system.
Below are the main types of equalisation techniques which are normally used for our application (spearfishing). There's quite a bit of literature (e.g: http://faculty.washington.edu/ekay/MEbaro.html) about the various techniques so I won't go into the details.
- Valsalva: Fingers on nose, using your lungs / diaphragm to pressurise your eustachian tubes.[/*]
- Frenzel: Fingers on nose, using you tongue to block off your airway and to pressurise your eustachian tubes.[/*]
There is another technique, BTV, which you don't seem to use, but is useful when you may be have issues with equalisation.
- BTV (Béance Tubaire Volontaire): Hands free equalisation. Flexing the eustachian muscles in order expand the tube which equalises the pressure.[/*]
There are also variations of these with different names. I do however think that unless you specifically know that this is the method that you utilise, that they aren't relevant for this discussion.
Valsalva is the technique which most beginner divers use. If you are using Valsalva then I recommend that you learn Frenzel. This technique will not only take you deeper with less effort but will also indicate pretty much immediately when a equalisation has not been successful - with Frenzel the pressure is immediate so you should have a positive "pop" of both the eustachian tubes which indicates that the pressure is equalised.
If you still have issues, even if you a can't equalise fully with BTV, understanding, learning and practising BTV techniques will make you more aware of how to actively target and control your eustachian tubes which I have found to translate into MUCH easier Frenzel equalisation. I have only been able to dive hands free to about 7m but have found that since I have been actively practising BTV, when switching to Frenzel, I only have to touch my nose and click my tongue lightly in order to get a comfortable and full equalisation.
A couple of other basic things to consider:
- Try and switch the hands that you would normally use squeeze your nostrils when you equalise. The pressure and shape of your thumb and finger on you mask may make a difference how you pressurise the nostril / sinus / ear that is having difficulty equalising.[/*]
- You do this already, but make sure you equalise fully before you begin a dive.[/*]
- Equalise often, once every meter or so. You should equalise a lot earlier than when you start feeling discomfort in your ear.
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- Make sure you equalise your ears fully during each equalisation effort - don't go deeper unless you are sure both ears completely equalised as the next equalisation will most probably fail.[/*]
Hope this helps.
