Ears On A Plane

steve634 · 01-30-2008, 04:03 AM

I will be flying to Bonaire the end of February. The problem is when i fly my ears always stop up. Anything i can do to prevent this. I hate to get there and not be able to dive. Any help apreciated

**MgicTwnger** · 01-30-2008, 11:02 AM

Have you tried equalizing like you do when you're diving? And how are your ears when you dive?

**dalehall** · 01-30-2008, 11:56 AM

What about a strong decongestant prior to the flight?

**Scuba Mama** · 01-31-2008, 08:05 PM

I have used stuff to clear my ears on flights. Now I take peppermints or some other hard candy. You can do the same things on a flight that you would use under water to clear. I use the peppermints because it makes me swollow and that will clear my ears bonus my breathe smells nice when I arrive.

Scuba Mama

steve634 · 02-01-2008, 04:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MgicTwnger

Have you tried equalizing like you do when you're diving? And how are your ears when you dive?

This will be my first flight since i started diving,,,, Usually when diving i clear pretty good sometimes a little trouble

steve634 · 02-01-2008, 04:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dalehall

What about a strong decongestant prior to the flight?

have you done this and what do you take

steve634 · 02-01-2008, 04:27 AM

Good idea,,, i will try the mints,,, fresh breath is always a plus,,,, thanks

**glynneco** · 02-01-2008, 10:50 AM

Make sure you leave enough time time between that last dive and your return flight. The most used chamber around here is near the airport!

**dalehall** · 02-01-2008, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve634

have you done this and what do you take

Plain 'ol Sudafed does me just fine.. Not that Sudafed PE crap.. The actual "behind the counter" Sudafed.

Of course, only take it for the flight.. Don't take any prior to diving..

Ally · 02-01-2008, 01:28 PM

One thing that should help this is very simple. Suck boiled sweets...the sucking motion of your jaws and swallowing will ease the pressure changes in your ears. At one time aircrew would hand out boiled sweets prior to take-off and before the plane started to descend for landing to passengers so that the nasty sensation of popping ears and ear pain would be averted.

I don't dive, but I do have problems with ear popping when flying, and have used the boiled sweets every time for years and it really does work. Sucking sweets during take-off and climb and then all the way back down to landing from the start of descent will curtail at least 90% of the ear problem, if not all of it.

Hope that helps