There are other maneuvers to equalize your middle ears than the one mentioned in this post.
1. Valsalva
– The most commonly used technique by scuba divers and beginner free divers
– Just possible if you can get air from your lungs
– Very easy technique
Technique details
1. Close nose (by fingers, block or clip) 2. Compress gas (try to breath out through your nose) 2.1 breath out (diaphragm moves up into chest cavity) 2.2 through nose (soft palate closes mouth cavity)
2. Frenzel
– Mostly used by experienced free divers to equalize also with strong compressed lungs
– Just possible if you have air in your mouth
– More complex technique
Technique details
1. Close nose (by fingers, block or clip) 2. Close epiglottis 3. Close mouth cavity (place tongue on hard palate) 4. Compress gas (push the tongue up and backwards)
Comparison
by Simo Kurra
by Ted Harty
Caution: When using a nose clip with a half mask, make sure you can still breathe out through your nose to be able to equalize your mask.