Lets talk ear plugs for diving.

[DeputyDan]

During my recent trip to Kona, Hawaii all of the instructors and DM's I dove with (except one) used ear plugs and swore by them. I was told that you have to purchase the correct size and that they kept out 95% of the water, with no negative effects on your ability to equalize.

I did not catch the manufacturer.

Any comments on where to purchase or experience with these?

 

[spectrum]

During my recent trip to Kona, Hawaii all of the instructors and DM's I dove with (except one) used ear plugs and swore by them. I was told that you have to purchase the correct size and that they kept out 95% of the water, with no negative effects on your ability to equalize.

I did not catch the manufacturer.

Any comments on where to purchase or experience with these?

That's surely contrary to my training. The reason being that the plug will be driven deeply into the ear as the water pressure outside increases and the air behind the plug compresses. Eventually the plug is somewhere you don't want it to be.

Even if the were contoured so as not to go in you would have low pressure air trapped outside of the ear and intentionally or otherwise when you equalize the inner ear the ear would blow out.

Could these plugs have been vented to allow the water to enter and equalize without having all or the waterborne material circulating in and out? Do you have any more details about the plugs?

Pete

 

[lord1234]

yes....my BOW manual says in big letters "no earplugs"

 

[DeputyDan]

They are ear plugs specifically made for diving. They have tiny air holes that allow equalization with a minumum amount of water being allowed to enter the ear.

 

[Diversion]

There is a brand called "Doc's Proplugs" www.proplugs.com

I bought some, but after doing some research, decided not to use them.

 

[Wayward Son]

They're Doc's ProPlugs.

http://www.proplugs.com

I have no personal experience with them.

 

[gtcpl2]

I bought some, but after doing some research, decided not to use them

I was thinking about giving them a try since my right ear has a little more difficulty than my left. I was hoping that since the pressure of water would not be on my ear drum, only air that it might make it easier.

Can you tell me what you found during research that made you say no to them??

 

[spectrum]

I was thinking about giving them a try since my right ear has a little more difficulty than my left. I was hoping that since the pressure of water would not be on my ear drum, only air that it might make it easier.

Can you tell me what you found during research that made you say no to them??

Air or water the pressure would be the same with a vented plug. If the hope is that it would be air bearing against the ear drum that would only be true when the drum is at the high point.

On ascent I'd be concerend that the restriction may no relieve quickly enough as the trapped air expands. What if the vent clogs for ascent or descent ?

Another solution in search of a problem?

Pete

 

[Diversion]

I was thinking about giving them a try since my right ear has a little more difficulty than my left. I was hoping that since the pressure of water would not be on my ear drum, only air that it might make it easier.
Can you tell me what you found during research that made you say no to them????

DAN has an article with both pros and cons. The issues with sudden failure/caloric vertigo made them not seem worth the risk - my interpretation.

The article:
http://www.diversalertnetwork.com/medical/articles/article.asp?articleid=33

 

[pasley]

I agree with Diversion, this is a solution in search of a problem. If you use ear plugs they must be specifically made for diving and must be vented. I too am concerned about them being able to vent at the same speed I am ascending or descending.

Yesterday, my dive partner had a pair of diving ear plugs. He seemed to like them, but one popped right out when he took his hood off, and he never got below 3 feet! (Weighing problems).

I also noticed that he had a lot of trouble hearing me on the surface. 7mm wetsuit hoods make hearing harder, but he had more problems hearing than I normally see.

That causes me to raise a safety question, will the ear plugs in conjunction with the wetsuit hood, dampen your hearing to a point where you may not hear the boat coming at you as you surface, or your fellow diver shouting that one is coming and you need to dive immediately while you swim out on the surface? I don't know the answer, but it is something to think about.