How to Reduce Mouthpiece Pressure

A mouthpiece is part of a scuba-diving breathing set. You insert the mouthpiece inside your mouth, and squeeze tightly to form a watertight seal with your lips. The mouthpiece is connected to a tube that attaches to your air tank and is used for breathing.



(Do not confuse a mouthpiece with a mouthguard, which is used in orthodontics and in sports to protect teeth from injury.)



As you go deeper underwater, the water pressure increases, and you may feel a squeeze or slight pressure inside your mouthpiece. You need to "equalize" the pressure in order to reduce the pressure in your mouthpiece.

Instructions

  1. Equalize Through Your Nose

    • 1

      Squeeze the tip of your nose with your forefinger and thumb.

    • 2

      Exhale hard through your (pinched) nose. You may feel a popping in your ears. This should "equalize" the pressure.

    • 3

      Repeat this several times. If after several attempts to equalize through your nose, you continue to feel pressure in your mouthpiece, proceed to Section Two.

    Equalize Through Your Mouth

    • 4

      Inhale deeply through the mouthpiece.

    • 5

      Pinch the end of your nose with your thumb and forefinger.

    • 6

      Hold your other hand very loosely over the external side of the mouthpiece. Do not cover the mouthpiece with your hand -- this will prevent airflow -- but keep your hand nearby to catch the mouthpiece if it falls.

    • 7

      Exhale hard through your mouth as you continue to keep your nose pinched. This should equalize the pressure in your mouth.

    • 8

      Repeat as necessary. If after several attempts, you continue to feel pressure, slowly begin to ascend to a shallower depth.