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#16
Hands free equalizing tips?
sea_echols - 8/16/2022 1:27 AM
Category: Free Diving
Replies: 3

Hi, I have a question for anybody who can do hands free equalization. I’ve been raising the back roof of my mouth (this is the soft palate correct?) And then alternating between resting and closing the throat, when I do it underwater I don’t really feel any puffs of air or sound it feels like im not equalizing unlike if I were doing valsalva, but when I resurface, I notice the ears have been "cleared" or have been popped better than if I did valsalva is this how hands free is supposed to feel? If not, could you inform me a little better about the movement and how it’s supposed to feel in any way? Thanks again!
#21070
LatitudeAdjustment - 8/16/2022 8:45 AM
Moving my jaw side to side works great if I don’t wait too long but not exactly hands free because I may need to hold the regulator.
#7414
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GreggS - 8/16/2022 9:31 AM
I move my jaw down slightly and then forward. It took a lot of practice and like @LatitudeAdjustment, I would have to hold the regulator in my mouth when learning to do it. But now, I can start equalizing while descending without touching it. I’ve gotten so used to doing it this way that I can do it in one fluid motion without even thinking about it. I’ve actually had dive buddies ask me how I can descend so fast since I’ve figured out how to do it this way.
#654
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Hank-NYC - 8/26/2022 12:16 PM
Sometime saying the alphabet helps move the jaw and helps reduce pressure.