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Do not attempt this Air Air can move freely in and out of a healthy sinus (A), painful method of equalization because your problems are so equalization is automatic during descent (B) and not over after you descend. When you ascend in this condiascent (C). Congested sinus tion, the compressed air in the sinuses expands to its original volume. The expansion can force the fluid in your sinuses A. C. B. + + ++ ++ + ++ out through the openings, which are swollen shut. Avoid this painful process; don’t dive unless your sinuses are clear and normal.

Because the human body is primarily liquid, the gases you breathe diffuse into your body tissues. In a mixture of gases, such as air, the percentage of the total pressure exerted by each gas is the partial pressure of that gas. Dalton’s law states that the total pressure exerted by a mixture of gases is the sum of the pressures that would be exerted by each gas if it alone were present and occupied the total volume. The partial pressure of a gas determines the amount of that gas that dissolves into a liquid.

1 m), and as needed thereafter. You can feel • Jutting the jaw forward while yawning with mouth closed. and hear air enter your ears when you eliminate any difference in pressure. If you attempt to equalize pressure but cannot get air into your Trapdoor ears, you should ascend several feet to reduce effect the pressure on your eustachian tubes and try again. If that works, continue your descent. If that does not work, ascend a few more feet and try again. Your initial descents may be somewhat jerky until you become accustomed to equalization techniques.