Luko
Contributor
1. An ENT made me quit cleaning my ears with swabs. In fact, he said he preaches against q-tips in the same manner a cardiologist preaches against cigarettes. To keep clean use a littkle soap on your index finger and be done with it. Some ear wax buildup is your friend.
2. I started using "Ear Beer" at the end of every dive day. Mix up a 1:1 solution of 70 % rubbing alcohol (easily found in Indonesia) and white vinegar. Lay down in bed, fill you ear canal, let it marinade for a minute or two and do not rinse afterward. Ear beer will not cure an infection but is great preventative.
Same same, I was really heavy on cotton swabs and didin't realize how bad they are.
Since I quit and used vinegar solution in my ears after each dive, I didn't experience any ear infection anymore.
+ Otolin in case it gets really bad.