If you experience a reverse block during ascent, what is the recommended action?

If you experience a reverse block during ascent, what is the recommended action?

• A. Continue ascending slowly without change.
• B. Descend to a depth where the pain subsides, then ascend slowly while wiggling your jaw and swallowing.
• C. Abort the dive immediately.
• D. Stop and rest at the current depth.

Answer: (B)

When ascending, the ambient pressure is dropping and your middle ear must vent to keep pressure equalized. A reverse block happens when you can’t vent the middle ear effectively during that ascent, causing painful pressure buildup. The way to handle it is to descend a bit to where the pain eases, then ascend again slowly while actively equalizing—by swallowing and wiggling the jaw to open the Eustachian tubes. This re-establishes the pressure balance as you rise and reduces the risk of ear injury. Continuing to ascend without changing anything would keep the pressure differential and worsen the pain. Stopping at the current depth doesn’t relieve the block, and aborting the dive isn’t necessary unless you can’t re-equalize.

When ascending, the ambient pressure is dropping and your middle ear must vent to keep pressure equalized. A reverse block happens when you can’t vent the middle ear effectively during that ascent, causing painful pressure buildup. The way to handle it is to descend a bit to where the pain eases, then ascend again slowly while actively equalizing—by swallowing and wiggling the jaw to open the Eustachian tubes. This re-establishes the pressure balance as you rise and reduces the risk of ear injury.

Continuing to ascend without changing anything would keep the pressure differential and worsen the pain. Stopping at the current depth doesn’t relieve the block, and aborting the dive isn’t necessary unless you can’t re-equalize.