Equalising pressure in ears under water and water in ear

[Wildfire]

Around my mid 20's (mid 30's now), I stopped swimming after swimming regularly. Now when I do go, I find it incredibly hard to equalise pressure in my ears. I've tried the hold nose and blow etc. to no avail.

Also every time I go swimming it seems that I get water stuck behind my ears, without fail.

Thing is, I'm going on holiday in 3 weeks and there will be a lot of swimming/free diving. Not too much of a problem, but once I get past 10/15 feet my I need to equalise. And then I know I will get water stuck in my ear!

Anyone got any advice?

[Wildfire]

Cheers, I'm going to try and clean out my ears before I go and also read up on different techniques.

I was looking at some ear plugs. The mask looks good, but a bit much for one holiday.

[Wildfire]

Gareth79 said:

Try clearing before the 10/15 foot mark, before you need to, and then repeatedly down. If you don't clear early enough then you are trying to open already squeezed eustachian tubes which is more difficult, and painful when you do.

Can you clear them ok out of the water? When you thrust your jaw backwards right now do your ears pop?

Yep, no problems out of the water, when in a plane or high rise lift etc. Just as soon as I hit the water, nothing seems to work.

Then I get water stuck in them!