Middle ear squeezes occur when the pressure inside the middle ear is less than the surrounding pressure. This situation occurs during descent, and you've likely experienced it while landing on an airplane or driving down a mountain.

Pressure changes are very dramatic in the water, and most divers begin to feel the effects of a squeeze after descending only a few feet. As you descend, the pressure causes the narrow Eustachian tube to close, which creates a closed air space behind the eardrum.

As the surrounding pressure continues to increase, the flexible eardrum stretches in towards the middle ear. This causes the discomfort or pain you feel in your ear. If you ignore this pain, the eardrum will eventually rupture and allow water to enter the middle ear. This causes extreme pain, hearing loss, and dizziness or vertigo.