Why does your eardrums hurt more as you dive deeper under water?

As you dive deeper underwater, the pressure around you increases due to the weight of the water above. This increased pressure can cause discomfort or pain in your eardrums because it creates a pressure imbalance between the external water pressure and the air-filled space in your middle ear. If you don't equalize the pressure by techniques like yawning or swallowing, the eardrum can stretch, leading to pain or even injury.