8 Comments

  1. Fleeky
    March 18, 2018 @ 4:28 pm

    Carl…
    your description of diving deep and the risk of ear trauma is a warning for all.
    Ear trauma is often irreversible and very painfull.

    Is there a limit to the Valsalva Method when it comes to depht?

    Reply

    • Carl
      March 18, 2018 @ 7:38 pm

      Hi there. Great question! Yes, there is a limit to the depth that u can effectively use the Valsalva Method if u are freediving. After about 60 feet it becomes near impossible to use and other methods need to be used to equalize. And yes, Ear Barotrauma is very painful indeed. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you come back and look around the site.

      Carl

      Reply

  2. Lawrence
    March 18, 2018 @ 4:30 pm

    Very informative post.
    The human body is an amazing thing – I guess when we get out of our natural environment we do throw everything out and precautions have to be taken.
    I’m not a scuba diver myself but found this very interesting as I wear hearing aids – loss of hearing caused by something completely different.
    Lawrence

    Reply

    • Carl
      March 18, 2018 @ 9:54 pm

      Hi Lawrence. Sorry about your hearing and yes the human body is amazing! Divers have to be very careful with their ears as it only takes a few feet of water to cause serious damage to the eardrum. Thanks much for stopping by and I hope you take a look around at the site. It has many interesting articles.

      Carl

      Reply

  3. Kay Thomas
    March 18, 2018 @ 5:08 pm

    I believe I suffered Barotrauma maybe 30 years ago diving the GBR… I have pretty much given up diving now as the pain in my ears is excruciating below about 10 feet, and also try to avoid flying when I can. Very cold weather makes it worse, my eardrums perforate at the slightest thing and there’s absolutely nothing I can do about it.
    I just wish that the internet had existed and people like yourself had been publishing information like this back then – would have saved me a lifetime of agony! Really great article, I hope every resort diver or dive student is made aware of Barotrauma. Diving is the most wonderful activity, but so fraught with danger if the student isn’t properly educated. Keep up the great work!

    Reply

    • Carl
      March 18, 2018 @ 10:00 pm

      Hi Kay. Yes, it only takes once to damage your ears. I am really sorry to hear about your experience. Having the knowledge ahead of time is definitely a better solution. As divers, we have to be so careful not to do any damage and being armed with the knowledge to prepare for anything is a good place to be. Your diving instructor should be the one to teach you about barotrauma as it can so easily happen in just a few feet of water. I must admit that I have been with some instructors that forget to discuss it and that is really bad in my opinion. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you come again.

      Carl

      Reply

  4. Jen
    March 19, 2018 @ 11:50 am

    This is a great post! My ears feel funny just thinking about how Barotrauma happens. This was really well written.

    Reply

    • Carl
      March 19, 2018 @ 7:55 pm

      Hi Jen and thanks very much. Made your ears ring did it? lol. Thanks much for stopping by and come back anytime.

      Carl

      Reply

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