I can clear hands-free, but only if I go really slow. For those of you that clear hands-free, do you use increasing pressure on your mask to force air in while flexing the eustacean tube muscles ("opening" the eustacean tubes)?

It seems that I can get better at hands-free equalization by using the increase in pressure on my mask to help with EQ, and adding more air to the mask when needed to continue the process - basically like the frenzel, but the water pressure is like the tongue piston.

Are you hands free? Or you just using the nose piece on your mask to blow against to equalize? I would really like to know how to hands free w/o blowing against the nose piece that has made a seal around my nostrils. I have tried everything to hands free but I just cannot, only in an airplane by swallowing.

I can clear totaly hands-free (no pinching), but only if I descend really slow - too slow to make a normal 50+ dive. I stalked a grouper not too long ago this way and it made me think that I could improve on this and begin to dive hands-free all the time.

I wiggle my jaw and breath normal and the job is done.

Just found this:http://faculty.washington.edu/ekay/MEbaro.html

also a good thread:http://forums.deeperblue.net/equalisation/33787-hands-free-equalization.html

I can clear hands-free, but only if I go really slow. For those of you that clear hands-free, do you use increasing pressure on your mask to force air in while flexing the eustacean tube muscles ("opening" the eustacean tubes)?

It seems that I can get better at hands-free equalization by using the increase in pressure on my mask to help with EQ, and adding more air to the mask when needed to continue the process - basically like the frenzel, but the water pressure is like the tongue piston.

I always did the same, however, after about 80 ft I could not effectivly do it w/o the frenzel technique. PFI also made me speed up my decent where I could not use the method I was so used to. It took a while to change me over but after 80ft I saw where the frenzel was the way to go.

OTOH it still doesnt mean I wont revert to my old ways for the shallow stuff though:D

I can do frenzel easily, I just like the idea of total freedom associated with hands-free. I think I am well on my way - even if I find it difficult at depth, I can always use frenzel.

What I was trying to say is that you can equalize hands free using your mask. A bud of mine does it. You just put the mask so that the nose piece is blocking your nostrils. To equalize the mask you just flair your nostrils. I cant perfect this way but I know it can be done resulting in hands free. The real hands free I have no clue how to do or never could do it. I bet I could but I would have to go really really slow and its not worth it. Might as well just do the mask trick.
I think maybe you can do it at depth cuz your descending faster. I do Frenzel and then a 80-90ft I do a mouthfill just for practice when trying for 120+ft.