Hands-Free Descents

[kjflyfish]

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.

[Choke Fish]

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.

[kjflyfish]

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.

[Deco]

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

[kjflyfish]

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

also a good thread:http://forums.deeperblue.net/equalis...alization.html

[fiz]

Originally Posted by kjflyfish

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

[kjflyfish]

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.

[Choke Fish]

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.