How to reduce ear pain when swimming far down?

[Lily]

Are you by chance an ear rumbler? Some people can voluntarily flex their tensor tympani muscle, which is a muscle in the ear that helps to regulate pressure. You can feel it when you yawn. I just rumble for a second or two when I get to depth and that helps my ears regulate (though it's a lot harder to do underwater).

[Aziara]

Are you by chance an ear rumbler? Some people can voluntarily flex their tensor tympani muscle, which is a muscle in the ear that helps to regulate pressure. You can feel it when you yawn. I just rumble for a second or two when I get to depth and that helps my ears regulate (though it's a lot harder to do underwater).

Huh... so is that what I'm doing when I 'almost' swallow and my ears equalize?

[Lily]

Huh... so is that what I'm doing when I 'almost' swallow and my ears equalize?

I never thought of it quite that way, but likely yes! Does it sound like crashing waves, or maybe an earthquake?

[Aziara]

I never thought of it quite that way, but likely yes! Does it sound like crashing waves, or maybe an earthquake?

Sorta... But with more of a crackle on top of the rumbley noise.