Think You “Can’t” Equalize? Let’s Prove It

My name is Harry Chamas.

I have been freediving for 16 years and providing personalized coaching for over 10 of those years.

5 of those years were spent in Dahab, working with every level of diver — from complete beginners with no experience to national and world record holders.

Teaching freediving is not just something I do. It is what I have dedicated my life to.

After coaching around the world for this long, I have seen clear patterns — both good and bad.

One consistent pattern is this: about 50% of beginners struggle to equalize well enough to truly enjoy freediving or even complete their course.

What makes this worse is that most instructors do not have the depth of knowledge or the time required to teach the intricate subtleties of Frenzel properly.

When a student struggles, the instructor often lacks the tools to solve the problem.

Frustration builds.

And that frustration can be projected onto the student — making the situation even more difficult.

The student wants to learn.

But there is no clear guidance.

Here is the uncomfortable reality: teaching Frenzel is the most technical and nuanced skill in freediving, yet beginner courses are often assigned to the least experienced instructors.

As a result, many people leave their first course believing they “cannot equalize,” as if equalization were some mystical ability you either have or you don’t.

That is not true.

Equalization is a skill.

And like any skill, it can be learned with the right guidance and deliberate practice.

Some people are told they may have a physiological blockage.

While that is possible, it is extremely rare.

It is worth ruling out — but in the vast majority of cases, the issue is simply a lack of proper instruction.

If you have failed your course but still want to freedive with ease and confidence, watch the video below.

You will learn whether there is a genuine physiological limitation — or whether you simply need to learn the skill properly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCcfHguf22Y

Do you have a physiological blockage?

Many people who do not equalize instinctively are led to believe they have a physiological issue preventing them from equalizing.

This is very rare.

However, it is absolutely worth ruling out — for your confidence as a student and for mine as your teacher.

If there is a genuine anatomical issue, no amount of technique will fix it.

But if your anatomy is functioning normally, you can be confident that consistent practice will lead you to your goals.

So let’s check.

First, understand two essential principles.

1. Equalization happens when we pressurize the nasal cavity.

The nasal cavity is the airspace behind the nose.

2. Pressurizing the lungs does not necessarily mean we have pressurized the nasal cavity.

These two spaces can be separated.

Example 1.

Take a breath as if you are about to lift something heavy or get punched in the stomach.

You will feel pressure in the lungs, but notice that the air does not leave the lungs.

This shows that you can separate the lungs from the mouth and nose.

Example 2.

Pretend you are blowing out a candle.

You pressurize the lungs and air leaves through the mouth — but not the nose.

This shows that you can separate the oral cavity (the space behind the lips) from the nasal cavity (the space behind the nose).

If they were not separated, air would also leave through the nose.

Since equalization happens when the nasal cavity is pressurized — and since we know the lungs can be separated from it — the key question is this:

Can you bring pressure into the nasal cavity when you try to equalize?

What does successful equalization feel like?

It is often described as a “pop” in the ears.

That is true for some people, but not for everyone.

Not everyone feels a pop.

Not everyone feels the same sensation in both ears.

Usually, one ear will equalize before the other.

Some people hear a squeak.

Some hear a hiss.

Some hear a crackle.

One ear may even sound different from the other.

What everyone should feel, however, is an outward stretching or flexing of the eardrum and a sense of fullness in the ear.

One ear often requires more pressure than the other.

If you feel equalization in one ear but not the other, gradually increase the pressure until both ears respond.

Now let’s practice — keeping the two principles in mind.

Air must be pressurized in the nasal cavity.

Pay attention to the physical sensations in the ears.

Step 2

Exhale gently through the nose.

If air flows out freely, you know you have not blocked off the lungs or oral cavity.

Air leaving the nose confirms this.

Step 1

Inhale deeply.

Now exhale through the nose while restricting the airflow with your fingers.

Restricting the flow creates pressure in the nasal cavity.

Do not close the nose completely yet.

Many people instinctively separate the lungs the moment they fully close the nose.

As long as air is still flowing out, you know this separation has not happened.

As you exhale, bring your attention to your ears.

Notice whether you feel pressure, stretching, or fullness.

If you feel nothing, exhale slightly harder.

If that does not work, increase the restriction slightly.

You may also try fully closing the nose.

This is more subtle, because it becomes harder to tell whether the nasal cavity is truly pressurized.

If you watch carefully, you will see the nostrils inflate when pressure builds inside the nasal cavity.

If, after some practice, you feel clear signs of equalization in both ears, you do not have an anatomical issue.

That means you can learn to equalize.

In the next video, we will begin building your understanding of the anatomy involved in Frenzel equalization.

Click HERE to learn more about Frenzel

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