There is nothing more frustrating than traveling thousands of miles, spending thousands of dollars, and then sitting on the dive deck while everyone else is in the water—all because your ears won’t clear. Ear barotrauma (or “ear squeeze”) is the number one injury in scuba diving, and it is almost entirely preventable. Before you pack your bags for your next tropical getaway, here is an instructor’s guide to protecting your ears, equalizing like a pro, and saving your dive trip.