Just before descending you should always put just a bit of pressure in your ears so you keep ahead of the ear-clearing effort. Failure to clear your ears when going more than a few feet underwater can result in damage to your ears. There are several methods. Holding your nose through the nose pocket in the mask and gently exhaling is the most popular method. Swallowing while holding your nose works well also. Clearing before the head goes below the surface is preferable. A full explanation will occur later, Ear clearing is a skill that is absolutely essential when going deeper than 6 feet (2 meters) under the surface.

Practice using your new mask, snorkel and fins. The more comfortable you become, the more you will enjoy your time in the water and the easier it will be to transition into scuba.

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