Discover Seamless Buoyancy Control and Equalization with Equaleasy

Claudio Di Manao
Claudio Di Manao

Claudio Di Manao continues the series of hints and advice on how to make equalising as comfortable and simple as possible.

How many times have our ears warned us that we were descending? It is often the ear, the part of our anatomy most sensitive to increasing pressure, that signals us of an unplanned descent. Not surprisingly, it is also one of the most-frequent victims of poor buoyancy control.

Buoyancy control is essential for the comfort and the safety of the dive. We will never stop repeating that fact. Poor buoyancy control increases air consumption, but more importantly, it affects the diver’s vertical speed control.

This begins with weighting – a diver carrying excess weight has to put more air in their buoyancy compensation device (BCD), which amplifies the effect of pressure changes at depth. A drysuit behaves in the same way. A swift change of volume in a drysuit or BCD can lead to fast ascents or unwanted descents.

Divers who are overweighted and fail to compensate this by putting additional gas in their BCDs display a very typical trim – an upright position with fins down. In order not to sink, these divers are forced to fin continuously, putting the sea bottom at risk and possibly causing loss of visibility if they stir up the sand.

On the other hand, divers who are not wearing enough weight or have too much air in their BCD are typically in a head-down trim. An inexperienced diver will find it difficult to reach the dump valve on the lower back of the BCD. In a drysuit, a head-down position causes air to become trapped in the feet, necessitating emergency countermeasures.

The most dangerous consequences of poor buoyancy control are a rapid ascent or missed decompression stop. These mistakes can take a diver straight into the hyperbaric chamber. The risk of barotrauma may seem small compared to the risk of decompression sickness (DCS).

However, the numbers tell a different story. The most-frequent diving injury is barotrauma, not DCS. Lack of proper buoyancy control is a major factor in many cases of barotrauma.

However, a diver doesn’t need to plunge into the abyss or shoot to the surface to get hurt. Repetitive, sudden depth changes can easily damage the ears.

Instructors taking students up and down during the course, often assisting them with both hands and not focusing on their own buoyancy, are an example. Instructors sometimes fail to equalise with the right frequency, which can result in barotrauma.

Unfortunately, many are unfamiliar with the hands-free equalisation technique, which is described in the EqualEasy course. No matter what the cause may be, any uncontrolled descent stresses our ears.

DAN Member since 1997, Claudio Di Manao is a PADI and IANTD diving instructor. He’s the author of a series of books and novels about diving, including Shamandura Generation, an exhilarating portrait of Sharm el Sheikh’s diving community. He collaborates with magazines, radios and newspapers, talking and writing about diving safety, marine life and travels.

poor-buoyancy-control
Poor buoyancy control increases air consumption, but more importantly, it affects the diver’s vertical speed control 

How to save the ears

Let’s go back to our lessons from open water training: While holding a normal breath and with an empty BCD (and a near-empty cylinder), a diver in a recreational configuration should float at eye level. It’s a method that works with reasonable reliability.

Beware the old saying, ‘better a kilo more than a kilo less’. Being too generous with the extra kilos carries its own hazards. frantic and sole use of the BCD would soon turn a diver into a yo-yo.

As for dealing with equalisation, it is better to be proactive rather than reactive – if we know we are going to ascend, we should be ready to deflate the BCD.

If we know we have to descend, we should avoid releasing too much gas, especially if we are already at depth. In addition, during the dive, it’s good to check the position of our legs and head – their position not only shows us what is happening with our trim, but also with our buoyancy.

You can visit: Divers Alert Network


This article was originally published in Scuba Diver UK #77

Subscribe digitally and read more great stories like this from anywhere in the world in a mobile-friendly format. Linked from Equaleasy-Buoyancy And Equalization

Updated Gear Affiliate: https://divernet.com/go/youtube-affiliate-link

@jaketarren
#askmark Heyo!  Been learning about sidemount and I'm having a hard time finding a clear example of how to rig the tanks.  I know it'll be covered in the training, but I need to know what to get before I take the class, there isn't a good sidemount shop near me.

Can you show how sidemount tanks and deco/stage tanks are rigged please?

Please visit our website for more Scuba news, underwater photography, hints & advice, and travel reports: https://divernet.com/ 

โœ… Important Affiliate Links to Follow

๐Ÿ”— Get 15% Off International eSIM Offer! Use Code: SCUBADIVERMAG
https://airalo.pxf.io/bO7Wy9

๐Ÿ”— Shop Scuba Gears Here:
https://www.scubadivermag.com/affiliate/dive-gear

๐Ÿ””๐ƒ๐จ๐ง'๐ญ ๐Ÿ๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐ž๐ญ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐›๐ฌ๐œ๐ซ๐ข๐›๐ž ๐ญ๐จ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐œ๐ก๐š๐ง๐ง๐ž๐ฅ ๐Ÿ๐จ๐ซ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ๐ž ๐ฎ๐ฉ๐๐š๐ญ๐ž๐ฌ.
https://www.youtube.com/@ScubaDiverMagazine/?sub_confirmation=1 

๐Ÿ”— Stay Connected With Us.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DivernetUK/ 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diver_magazine/ 
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@diver_magazine
Twitter (X): https://x.com/DiverNetUK/ 
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@scubadivermag

Website: https://divernet.com/ 
Website: https://godivingshow.com/ 
Website: https://rorkmedia.com/ 
 
๐Ÿ“ฉ For business inquiries: info@scubadivermag.com 

=============================

๐ŸŽฌSuggested videos for you:

โ–ถ๏ธ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0e1UkNqC64
โ–ถ๏ธ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzpChck2t38
โ–ถ๏ธ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xssfyMuHLA
โ–ถ๏ธ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abJeh86OTI4
โ–ถ๏ธ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtBi7RP71Rs
โ–ถ๏ธ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vk0dB7AsMfY
โ–ถ๏ธ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mv-PnILYPlI
โ–ถ๏ธ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMCYT_KB4pU
โ–ถ๏ธ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcqdceF8LIk
โ–ถ๏ธ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKboVxFhqZU
โ–ถ๏ธ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLHCpnu4EAo
โ–ถ๏ธ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWdE_wABwPQ
โ–ถ๏ธ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siXAoUDrJZA
โ–ถ๏ธ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7MfATRd5Os
โ–ถ๏ธ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Y6wIOKde48 

=================================

โœ… About Scuba Diver Magazine.

Welcome to Scuba Diver Magazine! Weโ€™re passionate about everything related to the underwater world. As a free distribution magazine in Europe, ANZ, and North America, we bring you the latest in scuba diving, from epic dive travel destinations and honest gear reviews to expert advice, news, and inspiring underwater stories.

Whether youโ€™re a seasoned diver or just starting your underwater journey, our content is designed to keep you informed, inspired, and ready for your next dive. Get in, explore, and stay connected to the world of scuba diving with us! Join us and never miss an adventure!

For Business inquiries, please use the contact information below:

๐Ÿ“ฉ Email: info@scubadivermag.com

๐Ÿ”” Love scuba diving? Subscribe now for dive travel tips, gear reviews, scuba advice, epic dives, diving news, and underwater stories!
https://www.youtube.com/@ScubaDiverMagazine/?sub_confirmation=1

@jaketarren
#askmark Heyo! Been learning about sidemount and I'm having a hard time finding a clear example of how to rig the tanks. I know it'll be covered in the training, but I need to know what to get before I take the class, there isn't a good sidemount shop near me.

Can you show how sidemount tanks and deco/stage tanks are rigged please?

Please visit our website for more Scuba news, underwater photography, hints & advice, and travel reports: https://divernet.com/

โœ… Important Affiliate Links to Follow

๐Ÿ”— Get 15% Off International eSIM Offer! Use Code: SCUBADIVERMAG
https://airalo.pxf.io/bO7Wy9

๐Ÿ”— Shop Scuba Gears Here:
https://www.scubadivermag.com/affiliate/dive-gear

๐Ÿ””๐ƒ๐จ๐ง'๐ญ ๐Ÿ๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐ž๐ญ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐›๐ฌ๐œ๐ซ๐ข๐›๐ž ๐ญ๐จ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐œ๐ก๐š๐ง๐ง๐ž๐ฅ ๐Ÿ๐จ๐ซ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ๐ž ๐ฎ๐ฉ๐๐š๐ญ๐ž๐ฌ.
https://www.youtube.com/@ScubaDiverMagazine/?sub_confirmation=1

๐Ÿ”— Stay Connected With Us.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DivernetUK/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diver_magazine/
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@diver_magazine
Twitter (X): https://x.com/DiverNetUK/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@scubadivermag

Website: https://divernet.com/
Website: https://godivingshow.com/
Website: https://rorkmedia.com/

๐Ÿ“ฉ For business inquiries: info@scubadivermag.com

=============================

๐ŸŽฌSuggested videos for you:

โ–ถ๏ธ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0e1UkNqC64
โ–ถ๏ธ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzpChck2t38
โ–ถ๏ธ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xssfyMuHLA
โ–ถ๏ธ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abJeh86OTI4
โ–ถ๏ธ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtBi7RP71Rs
โ–ถ๏ธ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vk0dB7AsMfY
โ–ถ๏ธ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mv-PnILYPlI
โ–ถ๏ธ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMCYT_KB4pU
โ–ถ๏ธ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcqdceF8LIk
โ–ถ๏ธ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKboVxFhqZU
โ–ถ๏ธ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLHCpnu4EAo
โ–ถ๏ธ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWdE_wABwPQ
โ–ถ๏ธ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siXAoUDrJZA
โ–ถ๏ธ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7MfATRd5Os
โ–ถ๏ธ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Y6wIOKde48

=================================

โœ… About Scuba Diver Magazine.

Welcome to Scuba Diver Magazine! Weโ€™re passionate about everything related to the underwater world. As a free distribution magazine in Europe, ANZ, and North America, we bring you the latest in scuba diving, from epic dive travel destinations and honest gear reviews to expert advice, news, and inspiring underwater stories.

Whether youโ€™re a seasoned diver or just starting your underwater journey, our content is designed to keep you informed, inspired, and ready for your next dive. Get in, explore, and stay connected to the world of scuba diving with us! Join us and never miss an adventure!

For Business inquiries, please use the contact information below:

๐Ÿ“ฉ Email: info@scubadivermag.com

๐Ÿ”” Love scuba diving? Subscribe now for dive travel tips, gear reviews, scuba advice, epic dives, diving news, and underwater stories!
https://www.youtube.com/@ScubaDiverMagazine/?sub_confirmation=1

YouTube Video UEw2X2VCMS1KYWdWbXFQSGV1YW84WVRHb2pFNkl3WlRSZS4wMUIwQkI1NEQ1RTFBNTND

How Do You Rig a Sidemount Cylinder?

Updated Gear Affiliate: https://divernet.com/go/youtube-affiliate-link 

@martink72
#askmark How do I attach a flashing light to my twin or single cylinder so that my buddy can see/find me even in poor visibility or at night? The typical lanyard on these things always let the light fall downwards and obscure it.
Please visit our website for more Scuba news, underwater photography, hints & advice, and travel reports: https://divernet.com/ 

โœ… Important Affiliate Links to Follow

๐Ÿ”— Get 15% Off International eSIM Offer! Use Code: SCUBADIVERMAG
https://airalo.pxf.io/bO7Wy9

๐Ÿ”— Shop Scuba Gears Here:
https://www.scubadivermag.com/affiliate/dive-gear

๐Ÿ””๐ƒ๐จ๐ง'๐ญ ๐Ÿ๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐ž๐ญ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐›๐ฌ๐œ๐ซ๐ข๐›๐ž ๐ญ๐จ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐œ๐ก๐š๐ง๐ง๐ž๐ฅ ๐Ÿ๐จ๐ซ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ๐ž ๐ฎ๐ฉ๐๐š๐ญ๐ž๐ฌ.
https://www.youtube.com/@ScubaDiverMagazine/?sub_confirmation=1 

๐Ÿ”— Stay Connected With Us.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DivernetUK/ 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diver_magazine/ 
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@diver_magazine
Twitter (X): https://x.com/DiverNetUK/ 
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@scubadivermag

Website: https://divernet.com/ 
Website: https://godivingshow.com/ 
Website: https://rorkmedia.com/ 
 
๐Ÿ“ฉ For business inquiries: info@scubadivermag.com 

=============================

๐ŸŽฌSuggested videos for you:

โ–ถ๏ธ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0e1UkNqC64
โ–ถ๏ธ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzpChck2t38
โ–ถ๏ธ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xssfyMuHLA
โ–ถ๏ธ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abJeh86OTI4
โ–ถ๏ธ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtBi7RP71Rs
โ–ถ๏ธ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vk0dB7AsMfY
โ–ถ๏ธ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mv-PnILYPlI
โ–ถ๏ธ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMCYT_KB4pU
โ–ถ๏ธ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcqdceF8LIk
โ–ถ๏ธ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKboVxFhqZU
โ–ถ๏ธ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLHCpnu4EAo
โ–ถ๏ธ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWdE_wABwPQ
โ–ถ๏ธ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siXAoUDrJZA
โ–ถ๏ธ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7MfATRd5Os
โ–ถ๏ธ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Y6wIOKde48 

=================================

โœ… About Scuba Diver Magazine.

Welcome to Scuba Diver Magazine! Weโ€™re passionate about everything related to the underwater world. As a free distribution magazine in Europe, ANZ, and North America, we bring you the latest in scuba diving, from epic dive travel destinations and honest gear reviews to expert advice, news, and inspiring underwater stories.

Whether youโ€™re a seasoned diver or just starting your underwater journey, our content is designed to keep you informed, inspired, and ready for your next dive. Get in, explore, and stay connected to the world of scuba diving with us! Join us and never miss an adventure!

For Business inquiries, please use the contact information below:

๐Ÿ“ฉ Email: info@scubadivermag.com

๐Ÿ”” Love scuba diving? Subscribe now for dive travel tips, gear reviews, scuba advice, epic dives, diving news, and underwater stories!
https://www.youtube.com/@ScubaDiverMagazine/?sub_confirmation=1

@martink72
#askmark How do I attach a flashing light to my twin or single cylinder so that my buddy can see/find me even in poor visibility or at night? The typical lanyard on these things always let the light fall downwards and obscure it.
Please visit our website for more Scuba news, underwater photography, hints & advice, and travel reports: https://divernet.com/

โœ… Important Affiliate Links to Follow

๐Ÿ”— Get 15% Off International eSIM Offer! Use Code: SCUBADIVERMAG
https://airalo.pxf.io/bO7Wy9

๐Ÿ”— Shop Scuba Gears Here:
https://www.scubadivermag.com/affiliate/dive-gear

๐Ÿ””๐ƒ๐จ๐ง'๐ญ ๐Ÿ๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐ž๐ญ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐›๐ฌ๐œ๐ซ๐ข๐›๐ž ๐ญ๐จ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐œ๐ก๐š๐ง๐ง๐ž๐ฅ ๐Ÿ๐จ๐ซ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ๐ž ๐ฎ๐ฉ๐๐š๐ญ๐ž๐ฌ.
https://www.youtube.com/@ScubaDiverMagazine/?sub_confirmation=1

๐Ÿ”— Stay Connected With Us.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DivernetUK/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diver_magazine/
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@diver_magazine
Twitter (X): https://x.com/DiverNetUK/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@scubadivermag

Website: https://divernet.com/
Website: https://godivingshow.com/
Website: https://rorkmedia.com/

๐Ÿ“ฉ For business inquiries: info@scubadivermag.com

=============================

๐ŸŽฌSuggested videos for you:

โ–ถ๏ธ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0e1UkNqC64
โ–ถ๏ธ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzpChck2t38
โ–ถ๏ธ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xssfyMuHLA
โ–ถ๏ธ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abJeh86OTI4
โ–ถ๏ธ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtBi7RP71Rs
โ–ถ๏ธ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vk0dB7AsMfY
โ–ถ๏ธ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mv-PnILYPlI
โ–ถ๏ธ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMCYT_KB4pU
โ–ถ๏ธ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcqdceF8LIk
โ–ถ๏ธ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKboVxFhqZU
โ–ถ๏ธ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLHCpnu4EAo
โ–ถ๏ธ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWdE_wABwPQ
โ–ถ๏ธ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siXAoUDrJZA
โ–ถ๏ธ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7MfATRd5Os
โ–ถ๏ธ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Y6wIOKde48

=================================

โœ… About Scuba Diver Magazine.

Welcome to Scuba Diver Magazine! Weโ€™re passionate about everything related to the underwater world. As a free distribution magazine in Europe, ANZ, and North America, we bring you the latest in scuba diving, from epic dive travel destinations and honest gear reviews to expert advice, news, and inspiring underwater stories.

Whether youโ€™re a seasoned diver or just starting your underwater journey, our content is designed to keep you informed, inspired, and ready for your next dive. Get in, explore, and stay connected to the world of scuba diving with us! Join us and never miss an adventure!

For Business inquiries, please use the contact information below:

๐Ÿ“ฉ Email: info@scubadivermag.com

๐Ÿ”” Love scuba diving? Subscribe now for dive travel tips, gear reviews, scuba advice, epic dives, diving news, and underwater stories!
https://www.youtube.com/@ScubaDiverMagazine/?sub_confirmation=1

YouTube Video UEw2X2VCMS1KYWdWbXFQSGV1YW84WVRHb2pFNkl3WlRSZS42MzYyQ0E2MUE4ODAzQkU5

How Can I Attach a Flashing Light Strobe To Myself So My Buddy Can See Me? #askmark #scubadiving

Updated Gear Affiliate: https://divernet.com/go/youtube-affiliate-link 

Check Out Wakatobi Dive Resort: https://divernet.com/go/wakatobi-dive-resort

#scuba #scubadiving #scubadiver

15% Off International eSIM Offer Use Code: SCUBADIVERMAG
https://airalo.pxf.io/bO7Wy9

Become a fan: https://www.scubadivermag.com/join

GEAR PURCHASES: https://www.scubadivermag.com/affiliate/dive-gear 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OUR WEBSITES

Website: https://www.scubadivermag.com โžก๏ธ Scuba Diving, Underwater Photography, Hints & Advice, Scuba Gear Reviews
Website: https://www.divernet.com โžก๏ธ Scuba News, Underwater Photography, Hints & Advice, Travel Reports
Website: https://www.godivingshow.com โžก๏ธ The Only Dive Show in the United Kingdom
Website: https://www.rorkmedia.com โžก๏ธ For advertising within our brands
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/scubadivermag
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/scubadivermag
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/scubadivermagazine

We partner with https://www.scuba.com and https://www.mikesdivestore.com for all your gear essentials. Consider using the affiliate link above to support the channel.

The information in this video is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional SCUBA Training or recommendations for every manufacturer. All content, including text, graphics, images, and information, contained in this video is for general information purposes only and does not replace training from a qualified Dive Instructor or specific requirements from equipment manufacturers.

Visit the Wakatobi Resort Website:
https://www.scubadivermag.com/affiliate/agv0

#scuba #scubadiving #scubadiver

15% Off International eSIM Offer Use Code: SCUBADIVERMAG
https://airalo.pxf.io/bO7Wy9

Become a fan: https://www.scubadivermag.com/join

GEAR PURCHASES: https://www.scubadivermag.com/affiliate/dive-gear

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OUR WEBSITES

Website: https://www.scubadivermag.com โžก๏ธ Scuba Diving, Underwater Photography, Hints & Advice, Scuba Gear Reviews
Website: https://www.divernet.com โžก๏ธ Scuba News, Underwater Photography, Hints & Advice, Travel Reports
Website: https://www.godivingshow.com โžก๏ธ The Only Dive Show in the United Kingdom
Website: https://www.rorkmedia.com โžก๏ธ For advertising within our brands
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/scubadivermag
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/scubadivermag
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/scubadivermagazine

We partner with https://www.scuba.com and https://www.mikesdivestore.com for all your gear essentials. Consider using the affiliate link above to support the channel.

The information in this video is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional SCUBA Training or recommendations for every manufacturer. All content, including text, graphics, images, and information, contained in this video is for general information purposes only and does not replace training from a qualified Dive Instructor or specific requirements from equipment manufacturers.

YouTube Video UEw2X2VCMS1KYWdWbXFQSGV1YW84WVRHb2pFNkl3WlRSZS43RkJGOTAwRDhCOEQ1RjIy

Is This The Best Dive Center Ever? W\@wakatobidiveresort

LETโ€™S KEEP IN TOUCH!

Get a weekly roundup of all Divernet news and articles Scuba Mask
We donโ€™t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.
Subscribe
Notify of
guest

0 Comments
Most Voted
Newest Oldest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Recent Comments
Recent News