Hi- love2fishfork. Since my first post, I've gone to buy the plugs and had them fitted in a reputable dive shop locally. I can't attest to how well they work but I'll let you know when I get back from Utila next week, but I can tell you how we fitted them.
First of all, the plug seems to need to kind of "click" beneath the bony part of your earlobe opening. The guy who fitted me said it was important that you don't have that wide flappy part of the plug flapping outside your ear. Now, the hum test, two things to check. When the plug is in properly, you should be able to talk or hum or whatever and notice that the side you have the plug in sounds like you're "underwater" or muffled. If it's as clear as the ear without the plug, you don't have a good fit. In addition, if you get the plug in place and then take our index finger and "push in" gently where your ear canal opening is, you should feel a gentle suction for a moment. It's not real pressure or anything, just a little suction which relieves itself right away as air comes through the opening.
Went through the same process a few days later with my husband who got jealous and wanted a pair and was suprised to find that although he's twice my size, we wear the same size plug. They're so cheap that we bought and extra pair to use in case one pops out or gets lost.
The dive shop owner did caution me to rinse them after use and to always make sure the hole is unobstructed or you could have real problems, so I thought I'd pass that along since you're using the mail order method. If you're not confident, look on the plug manufacturer's website and you can find a retailer in your area who can assist in fitting you.
www.proplugs.com
Well, good luck, I'll be trying mine next week. Then we can swap stories. I'm hoping these little rubber gadgets are a godsend. I always have trouble equalizing due to a slightly iregular eustachian tube. Let me know how you make out with them!
Susan
