Eli5, how is it that Scuba divers typically have to squeeze their nose and blow to equalize the pressure in their ears every few feet, but those who free dive can sink 20-30 feet in 10 seconds, and be fine while not visually equalizing?

Question

Is the ability to breathe what changes this, or is there some other technique behind it?

In: 55

Answer 1

Does anyone else equalise without pinching or moving anything? I don’t know how to explain how I do it but I can just move some part of my inner ears without moving my tongue or jaw? Not sure if it works underwater though but it does on a plane. It’s kind of the the same feeling before you do a yawn?