Stop ignoring your damn ear squeeze - it's not just a little discomfort

I keep seeing guys on here talking about ear squeeze like it's no big deal, just pop your ears and keep going. That's how you end up like my buddy Dave last year off the coast of Galveston. He was doing a 60-foot inspection on a pier foundation, felt that pressure building, and just kept descending because the foreman was pushing the clock. By the time he surfaced, his eardrum was ruptured and he had vertigo so bad he couldn't stand for three days. Took him six weeks off the job and a surgery to fix it. I've been diving since 2012 and I've learned that if you feel that pinch in your ears at even 10 feet, you stop and equalize properly or you abort the dive. It's not worth your hearing or your career over one quick job. Has anyone else had a close call with ear squeeze or seen a guy try to tough through it and regret it?

3 comments

3 Comments

mary_martin2223d ago

Drove myself to the ER once with a nosebleed that wouldnt quit from trying to equalize too hard.

emmag2219d ago

Oh wow, I hope you're okay now! Just so you know though, you really shouldn't drive yourself if you're bleeding heavily like that. Nosebleeds can make you dizzy or lightheaded, better to have someone else take you or call a friend!

rosebarnes23d ago

Oh man, it's always the simple things that get us into trouble!