When should you equalize your ears while descending?

Equalizing your ears while descending is essential for preventing ear pain and potential injury due to the differences in pressure. The correct approach is to equalize frequently during the descent, ideally before any discomfort is felt. This proactive measure allows your body to adapt to the changing pressures gradually, reducing the risk of barotrauma, which occurs when the pressure outside the ear exceeds that of the middle ear.

By equalizing early and often, you enable the Eustachian tubes to open regularly, allowing air to flow into the middle ear and equalize the pressure. It is much easier to perform this action when there isn't existing discomfort. If divers wait until they feel discomfort, they might be unable to equalize effectively, increasing the risk for injury.

The other options suggest practices that would not effectively safeguard the ears against pressure changes during descent. Waiting until reaching maximum depth or only equalizing at the surface does not accommodate the gradual change in pressure as one descends. Similarly, equalizing only after discomfort can lead to complications that could be avoided with frequent equalization techniques.