⌛ Diving and Snorkelling

I have recently read a book about the arduous exploits of a Very famous sea captain, Lord George Anson (1697--1762). He sailed around the world from England starting in 1740 and returning in 1744. He did actually sail through the Islands of the Philippines hunting for the famous Manila galleon.
Within this book is an extract about the lives of some Negro slaves who were used to freedive to collect pearl oysters from the deep ocean of the coast of Panama.
"These are said not to be esteemed complete divers till they have by degrees been able to protract their stay under water so long that the blood gushes out from their nose, mouth and ears. It is the tradition of the country, that when this accident has befallen them, they dive for the future with much greater facility than before; and they have no apprehension either that any inconvenience can attend it, the bleeding generally stopping by itself, or that there is any probability of their ever being subject to it a second time. "
To get back to the present. I would love to dive. I do get terrible ear pains when I get only as deep as two meter's. I havent always had such pains and will trace it back to my Army days when I did actually do a lot of shooting. (targets only )
Any of the Forum Diving persons can relate to this in any way ?
I will if able go to my doctor to have this checked somehow. I have mentioned it before but they find nothing amiss with a simple examination of my ears.
Take care all and wishing you good and safe diving.

 

Cheers flyfly..You ears are not special/different from most of the other people in the world.. We all will/should have some form of blocking feeling or pain in the ears if we go 2 meters underwater...This increases the pressure on the very sensitive ,ear drum. The trick/solution is to learn how to "equalize" - balance the pressure from the out side to the inside of you ear drum..This is usually done by pinching off the nose and blowing (very gently) or swallowing...We do the same in an airplane..
Have your sawbone check your ears and eustacion tubes (easily done) and if all ok,we look forward to seeing you underwater(you will be amazed) and in Dumaguete,after you have finished putting out all the fires !! Miguel

 

Adding to Sntmig's reaction: Go to a doctor who is specialised in diving checks. Not each doctor knows enough so better go to one who does regular checks on divers.
Some people like me have no problems with my ears and sinusses but get them immediately and automaticaly eaqualised when going under.
I only have to "force/help" by holding my nose when I catched a cold. Biting in the mouthpiece is nornally for me enought to get the pressure in my ears eaqualised at in- and outside.
I know from my experience only a very few percentage of novices who had to give up diving lessons because of their inability to eaqualise after several trainings on that. So there is a lot of hope for you as well

 

Thanks for the replies smtmig and Jellyfish. When I was younger I had no problems with diving to 2 m and have not had any problems with flying and pressure equalisation. I have noticed these bad pains after I left the Army at age 25.. Since then I just stay on the surface or very shallow dive. Now that I will be able to think about diving in the future I will plan to have my ears better examined. Take care.

 

Sntmig sorry.

 

sntmig and Jelly gave perfect answers. an examination is never a bad idea.

Generalizing, you can think about your eardrum like a muscle. It is not getting better with the age if not in use and not trained with the years.

If you have no other ear problems on the surface, you might go into a pool or shallow water in Scuba gear with an instructor/divemaster and work your way very slowly deeper and see if you can equalize at all.

cheers

Rhoody

 

Thanks Rhoody.