Why? Impossible to say from the information given. Perhaps you had a bit of congestion or some other blockage the Eustachian tube to that ear. Perhaps the tissues were swollen or inflamed for some reason. Perhaps the gremlins were about and decided to play a trick on you.

I’m not sure the why is as important as the lesson you hopefully learned about not continuing your descent if you can’t equalize.

What could you have done differently? Again, impossible to say. Were you able to equalize both ears on the surface without any difficulties? If not, it was likely some sort of blockage or inflammation and it was probably a bad idea to try diving that day. If you didn’t have any trouble on the surface, perhaps you waited to long to begin equalizing on that dive and experienced the trapdoor effect, where the Eustachian tube openings get locked shut by the pressure differential. If you had done multiple dives before this one perhaps you irritated the tissues enough on prior dives that they swelled to the point where air couldn’t get through.

Anyway, I hope you can get back to diving soon and don’t try to push past equalization problems in the future. Good luck.

At the beginning you will be scared and breathing might trouble you but it is all about believing in yourself and your equipment. YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE ENOUGH OXYGEN! remember that it really helps and when you inhale inhale strongly and when you exhale exhale slowly.

These where a few beginning tips now swimming with the fish is an experience that is really unique because not everyone can do it, fish will swim away from you if you behave abruptly in the water but if you are calm the fish won;t come near you and you will enjoy swimming with them. And underwater is not cramped!

Trust me if you are going to sign in for the classes then you made a choice that you will never forget and will be in your mind and heart forever =D!

Edit: I know it is not oxygen only…i was just saying explaining a point..you don’t have to be too accurate..

Duration : 0:6:22

Technorati Tags: ?????, ??????, ??????, ???????, ????????, ?????????, ?????????, ???????????., adventure, America, Bangkok, Beach, boat, chiang, cruise, diving, fun, Hatyai, Hong, japan, kong, Krabi, Mai, Malaysia, nature, Patong, Pattaya, People.???????, Phi, Phuket, Samui, sand, scuba, sea, Singapore, Sun, Tao, thai, Thailand, travel, Vietnam

Duration : 0:1:46

Technorati Tags: 'snorkeling, divessi, schnorcheln, scuba, ssi, tauchen

Duration : 0:1:21

Technorati Tags: 'snorkel, black, blue, divers, fins', mask, Medium, over, scuba, Set, U.S.

Duration : 0:6:26

Technorati Tags: adrenalin, amazing, bans, beautiful, Best, big, blue sea, cool, diving, diving resort, editing, exiting, final cut pro, fish, footage, fun, gates, giant, gulf, hd, High definition, housings, huge, island, koh tao, majestic, marine, movie, ocean, open water courses, padi course, sairee cottage diving, scuba, scuba equipment, sharks, silhouette, sony, ssi course, Thailand, The Film Company, training, trigger fish, underwater videography, video, water, wedding, whale shark

Duration : 0:7:41

Technorati Tags: and diving accessories, buoyancy compensators, fins', instruments, masks, snorkels, wetsuits

Duration : 0:8:32

Technorati Tags: diving, jill, lanzarote, neil, scuba, seahorses

http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1443929&cp=2367438.2367826.2672649

http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2173704&cp=2367438.2367826.2672649

http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3927172&cp=2367438.2367826.2672649

The third ones look kind of funny.

Fins made for snorkelling/bodyboarding tend to be shorter and softer than SCUBA fins, because they’re designed for use by a ‘naked’ swimmer. However, if you try to use them for SCUBA diving, you will find yourself working much harder than necessary to push against the heavy resistance imposed by the gear–especially if you’re going to be diving in cold water (55°F = 12.5°C = COLD!), which requires wearing a bulky wetsuit or even a drysuit. On that basis, of the three models you’ve linked, only the second pair is actually intended for SCUBA diving, so if those three are the only models you’re considering, then that’s the pair I’d buy if I were you.

It’s true that split fins require a much shorter flutter kick (which is more streamlined and hence less effort) than using conventional fins. Some people swear by them, but speaking personally, I wouldn’t buy split fins for myself. I borrowed a pair once (Scubapro TwinJet) and didn’t like them very much (they were so soft and floppy, it felt like I wasn’t wearing any fins at all), which kind of put me off buying that design. I have dived Mares Avanti Quattros for years, and been very happy with them–but some people find them too stiff and heavy. They’re also relatively large, making them less practical for travelling.

It basically comes down to personal preference, and what suits you. I was habituated to my Quattros, and I tend to use frog kick anyway, which doesn’t really work with split fins–which could be why I didn’t get on very well with them. Perhaps if I’d given myself a bit more time to get used to them, I would have been converted too. If they’re the first pair of fins that you buy, it might be different for you, since you’ll be getting used to them from Day 1, with no old habits to un-learn.

All the best for your course, and happy diving.

Duration : 0:8:18

Technorati Tags: Abdulla, Almazrouei, Almehrezi, dive, diving, Ibrahim, Maldive, Maldives, manta, scuba, talal, travel, underwater, vacation