Derekbox 0 #1 June 6, 2002 Hey ppl, I have a quick question. A friend of mine wants to skydive. But heres the problem (isnt there always an excuse... hehehe). She has tried scuab diving, but she had a helluva hard time equalizing (she wasnt sick, and we tried decongestants), more accuratly, she really couldnt. She is worried that she may have the same problem not being able to equalize skydiving. Any of you peeps know about this problem, heard of it, know any tricks etc?I have a friend who did have this problem too (doing a tandem). so I just want to get your input. I am thinking maybe she can just catch a ride up, see how that goes, see if she can clear then, then step up to a tandem.Thanks Derek.->"Will work for jumps"->Daytona Beach Fl ->DZ: Deland->AIM: Derekbox Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lazerq3 0 #2 June 6, 2002 I'm just totally guesing but isnt theere more of a pressuer build up under water than in elevation??? That being the case maybe the pressure wont be a great or as noticble go up as it is going under water.....Couldnt she go on a SPEC ride and see how she does with that...and then if that pressure doesnt botherre her...go for a tandem!! (jsut a guess maybe )jason Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Derekbox 0 #3 June 6, 2002 yeah there is a more positive pressure underwater, the problem isnt really the QUANTITY of pressure, its the difference in pressure. She had problems going just a few feet underwater... The differential pressure there is nothing, but enough to cause a few ppl some MAJOR problems. but yeah, thats my best idea right now, just have her go up on a load and see how it goes...->"Will work for jumps"->Daytona Beach Fl ->DZ: Deland->AIM: Derekbox Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
weid14 0 #4 June 6, 2002 see if this helps : 2.31foot/psi of water (go under 10 feet and it feels like 4.33 psi (gauge) on your body), the pressure at 10,000 feet is about 69% of that at sea level (a guage would read about -9.86 psi -- you'll altimeter reads 10,000), a difference of about 4.5 or so psi (equivalent to about 10 feet of under water difference). Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diverds 0 #5 June 6, 2002 33 feet of water is equal to one entire atmosphere of pressure.-Dave"Gas...Undercarriage...Mixture...Prop...Beer" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Derekbox 0 #7 June 6, 2002 ummm ok....what are you saying?->"Will work for jumps"->Daytona Beach Fl ->DZ: Deland->AIM: Derekbox Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #8 June 6, 2002 See http://faculty.washington.edu/ekay/MEbaro.html.There are a couple of different techniques.quadehttp://futurecam.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
weid14 0 #9 June 6, 2002 Quade: cool site....Derek -- what i was saying was the pressure difference going to 10,000 feet would feel about the same as going 10 feet under water (roughly). Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Derekbox 0 #10 June 6, 2002 Ahh I was gathering as much, just not sure. ;)She was having difficulties before probably hitting 10' (underwater). She is difficult, hehehe so I am trying to see if I can find someone who has been through this, or had the same problem scuba diving, but skydives ok. Precidence you know. Thanks for the help ppl. I really appreciate it.->"Will work for jumps"->Daytona Beach Fl ->DZ: Deland->AIM: Derekbox Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billo 0 #11 June 6, 2002 my ears didn't like scuba diving immediately, but they didn't like jumping right away either. now neither is a problem, cept i did get a nasty ear ache the other weekend after jumping a king air on a horrible hangover. could they be related? i don't know.what kind of plane will you be jumping? i'm from a cessna dz, so equalization is never an issue. i have gotten annoyed a few times when jumping turbines that climb a bit faster, but i just try to chew gum or yawn a bunch to keep things working right.hope the jump goes good for your friend!b Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ddircksen 0 #12 June 6, 2002 Yeah, my girlfriend couldn't scuba at all, lots and lots of trouble equalizing, but she skydives fine. She used to spend hours trying to equalize, no problems so far at 11 000 feet in the air. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
drenaline 0 #13 June 6, 2002 Hey Derek,Most prolly she wont get any trouble going up cause of the climbing is kinda slow (depends on the plane) if its too fast she can chew some gum, yawn or do the inverse valsalva technique (like scuba diving but inverse, hold your nose and instead of exhaling from your nose, inhale from it) and that would fix the difference of pressure from the inner ear to the outer ear, if her ears bothers in freefall she could yawn, drink saliva or do the normal valsalva (but this last one might induce some uncontrollable turns so its a no good).About her scuba diving (I know this is skydiving), most prolly is that she has some serious sinus problems that would be smart to be checked by a doctor and the other answer is that she might be doing the equalization to late or using a wrong technique.The best technique but harder one (on some people) is to learn how to control the ear muscles, so she can compensate without the need of gum or other technique (the idea of the gum and yawn is to move the ear muscles and force some air in or out the inner ear and compensate the pressure). Oh yeah and the higher you go the less pressure it will be (inverse of scuba, no pressure going in, its pressure going out), so if it bothers her at 12k it might not at 10k."Life is full of danger, so why be afraid?"drenaline Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jasmin 0 #14 June 6, 2002 I have trouble with water pressure too, but generally I'm fine skydiving. Its only if I get the flu, the pressure build up is unbearable when freefalling. The problem isn't going up, that'll make her feel better, its when she comes down. But unless she suffers from severe sinusitis (check, she'll know) she should be fine. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
reprobate 0 #15 June 6, 2002 Being a student I haven't had that many rides up. But.. I turned to skydiving because I am having problems clearing my ears with SCUBA. A 40 foot desent I am yo yoing up and down blowing and clearing. This was caused by a tube infection. A 14,000 ft ride clears easy, at 5500 my tubes need clearing but not bad enough that I need to do it first, or fast. The pressure reduction is less than the pressure increase on most dives. This has been pointied out on the other posts. The only time I have had trouble was in an unpressureized glider when I had a cold. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Derekbox 0 #16 June 6, 2002 Thanks for all the input, now I just need to present it to her and hope she will do it, otherwise I need a few volunteers to hold her down while we strap on a tandem harness. (she wants to do it, just nervious) ;) hehehe.Anyone else have any experiences with this?->"Will work for jumps"->Daytona Beach Fl ->DZ: Deland->AIM: Derekbox Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #17 June 6, 2002 QuoteAnyone else have any experiences with this?Geeze, I don't know. There may be one or two people on DZ.com that have expressed their fondness of BDSM, but I'm not going to name them. quadehttp://futurecam.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #18 June 6, 2002 BDSM? Where's Bill.... he's got to be around here if that word has came up at all.... And for the record.... Quade brought it up this time! (Not Bill) Thats a first....If once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny, consume you it will.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #19 June 6, 2002 No. I didn't. Derek brought it up first!quadehttp://futurecam.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Derekbox 0 #20 June 6, 2002 hey, I said ear problems, not being tied up and whipped problems. Hehehe. Leave me out of this one- I have to show her the thread still *snickers* Derek->"Will work for jumps"->Daytona Beach Fl ->DZ: Deland->AIM: Derekbox Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #21 June 6, 2002 Derek --You said,QuoteI need a few volunteers to hold her down while we strap on a tandem harness.Anyone else have any experiences with this?CLEARLY you started it!quadehttp://futurecam.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Derekbox 0 #22 June 7, 2002 hehehewell technically.. My intents were to throw her out of a perfectly good airplane (hey are there perfectly good DZ airplanes?)...but yeah, I guess once she is back on the ground who knows what kind of freaky shit may go down...LaterDerekOhh yeah, if you never hear from me again its cause Jennet (the SO) saw this post and beat the shit outta me. hehehe, hows that for BDSM. ;)->"Will work for jumps"->Daytona Beach Fl ->DZ: Deland->AIM: Derekbox Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
