Save Your Trip: 5 Pro Tips for Troubleshooting Ears on a Multi-Day Dive Adventure
You’ve booked the flights, packed the gear, and arrived in sunny Hurghada for a week of epic diving. Day 1 is fantastic. But on the morning of Day 2, you feel it: that “stuffy” feeling. Or worse, you start your descent and one ear refuses to clear.
Ear equalization issues are the most common frustration in scuba diving. On a single day of diving, it’s annoying. On a multi-day trip, it can be a disaster, potentially grounding you while the boat heads out to the Thistlegorm.
At Scubadore Hurghada, our instructors have guided thousands of descents. We’ve seen every ear problem imaginable, and we know that most of them can be solved with technique, patience, and a little biology.
Here are 5 pro tips to keep your ears happy and your logbook filling up all week long.
1. The Golden Rule: Early and Often (Pre-Equalize!)
The biggest mistake divers make is waiting until they feel pressure to equalize. By then, it’s often too late.
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The Science: Once the pressure differential is significant, the Eustachian tube (the small passage connecting your ear to your throat) is squeezed shut by the surrounding water pressure. No amount of blowing will open it.
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The Fix: Start equalizing before your head goes under the water. Equalize again at 1 meter. Then again at 2 meters.
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The Rhythm: You should be equalizing with every single breath on the way down for the first 5 meters. If you feel any pain, stop immediately. You have gone too far.
2. Look Up, Feet Down (Body Position Matters)
Many divers descend head-first, looking at the reef below. This is the worst position for “sticky” ears.
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The Fix: Descend feet-first or in a horizontal trim position, but look slightly up.
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Why it Works: Extending your neck by looking up stretches the Eustachian tubes, making them easier to open. Descending feet-first reduces the blood pressure in your head compared to being inverted, which decreases the congestion in the tissues surrounding the tubes.
3. Use the Line (Don’t Drift in the Blue)
On a drift dive, you often descend in “the blue” without a visual reference. This can lead to rapid, uncontrolled descents where you drop 5 meters before you realize you haven’t equalized.
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The Fix: If you have trouble with your ears, tell your Scubadore guide! We will prioritize mooring dives where you can use a descent line.
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Control: Holding the line allows you to physically stop your descent instantly. You can hang there, relax, work on your ear, and only descend when you are ready. It removes the stress of trying to maintain buoyancy while struggling with your ears.
4. Hydrate to Lubricate
This is the most overlooked factor on dive holidays. You are breathing compressed air, which is filtered and extremely dry. This sucks moisture out of your body with every breath.
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The Issue: Dehydration causes the mucus in your Eustachian tubes to become thick and sticky, making them much harder to open.
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The Fix: Drink more water than you think you need. Aim for 3-4 liters a day. Avoid excessive alcohol and caffeine, as both dehydrate you. If your mucus is thin, your ears will clear with a simple “pop.”
5. Switch Your Technique (Stop Blowing So Hard!)
Most divers use the Valsalva Maneuver (pinching the nose and blowing). It works, but if you blow too hard, you can damage your ear. If Valsalva isn’t working, don’t force it. Switch tactics.
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The Toynbee Maneuver: Pinch your nose and swallow. This activates the muscles that pull the tubes open.
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The Jaw Wiggle: Thrust your jaw forward and wiggle it side-to-side while swallowing. You’ll look funny, but it works wonders.
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The Head Tilt: Tilt your blocked ear toward the shoulder (stretching the neck) while gently blowing.
The Danger Zone: Reverse Block
A quick warning on decongestants: Many divers take medicine (like Sudafed) to clear their ears. Be very careful. If the medicine wears off during the dive, you can suffer a Reverse Block. This is when air gets trapped in your middle ear and expands as you ascend. It is excruciatingly painful and can rupture an eardrum. If you are sick or genuinely congested, the only safe option is to stay dry.
The Scubadore Difference: Small Groups Means Less Pressure
The number one cause of ear injury is peer pressure. You feel like you are holding up the group, so you force it.
At Scubadore Hurghada, we never rush a descent. Our small-group philosophy means we have the time to wait. If you are stuck at 3 meters, your guide stays with you at 3 meters. We will help you work through it, ascend slightly to try again, and ensure you get down safely.
Your hearing is worth more than any dive. Take it slow, keep it gentle, and enjoy the silence of the deep.
