Olive oil in ears, pre-dive?

[DandyDon]

U.S. Navy diving and the commercial diving college I managed to live through reccomened a denbromic (sp?) solution of vinigar and water. It is 1 qt. of h2o to 1 tbsp. of vinigar.

The theory is that you don't want to dry the ears out because they are naturally damp. Alcohol removes all the moisture and will result in cracking, pain and other problems. The vinigar solution held for 1 to 5 minutes will kill any bugs you pick up and leave the ear canals moist and clean.

I have never had an exterior ear infection, so I think it works.

That's a pretty weak solution - especially as fast as the vinegar breaks down. I am surprised it worked, doubt that it'd do any good at all with hard, alkaline waters I grew up with. I had a few bad ear infections, but none since I started using equal parts vinegar, alcohol, water as suggested by DocV.

No. We have generated a lot of heated air so far which would undoubtedly help by being blown in each ear after a dive.

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[muddiver]

That's a pretty weak solution - especially as fast as the vinegar breaks down. I am surprised it worked, doubt that it'd do any good at all with hard, alkaline waters I grew up with. I had a few bad ear infections, but none since I started using equal parts vinegar, alcohol, water as suggested by DocV.

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Well, I might have the amount of water wrong. I have no idea what box all my notes and college manuals are in. It work fine out here on the Left Coast where our water is realitively soft. I do remember squeezing rocks out there in the Lone Star state when I was young to get our drinking water. Are you pulling from a well?

 

[DandyDon]

Well, I might have the amount of water wrong. I have no idea what box all my notes and college manuals are in. It work fine out here on the Left Coast where our water is realitively soft. I do remember squeezing rocks out there in the Lone Star state when I was young to get our drinking water. Are you pulling from a well?

Uh, the well water here on the Texas High Plains is hard, but the towns are on reservoir water, much harder. I use Reverse Osmosis water for anything I mix, for making coffee, etc.