What could happen if a diver is unable to equalize their ears during descent?

When a diver is unable to equalize the pressure in their ears during descent, the most relevant result is ear squeeze. This condition occurs because the pressure outside the eardrum increases while the pressure inside the middle ear remains at a lower level when equalization fails. The inability to equalize can lead to a vacuum effect that causes the eardrum to be pulled inward, potentially resulting in pain, discomfort, and even damage to the eardrum.

Ear squeeze can manifest with symptoms such as sharp pain, a feeling of fullness in the ears, difficulty hearing, or even dizziness. If the pressure differential continues and the diver descends further without equalizing, this can lead to more serious injuries, such as ruptured eardrums. Therefore, understanding the importance of equalizing pressure during descent is crucial for safe diving practices.

Other outcomes, although related to pressure changes in diving, do not directly correlate with a diver's inability to equalize their ears. Decompression sickness is associated with rapid ascent and nitrogen bubbles forming in the body, while barotrauma refers more broadly to injuries caused by pressure changes. A pneumothorax involves the presence of air in the pleural cavity, which is unrelated to ear equalization during a dive.