A pressure compensating drip emitter for controlling fluid flow through a hole in an irrigation line includes an enclosing sidewall that has two ends, surrounds a volume, and is formed with an internal ledge between the ends to support an elastomeric membrane. A pressure-reducing fluid passageway that is formed as a labyrinth is provided that includes an outer, annular portion that is in fluid communication with an emitter inlet and an inner annular portion that is in fluid communication with an emitter outlet. The membrane is deformable between a first low-pressure membrane configuration which allows fluid to bypass the inner annular portion in flowing from the outer portion to the outlet. In a second high-pressure membrane configuration, the deformed membrane covers the inner fluid passageway forcing the fluid to flow through both the outer and inner fluid passageway portions.
