Soft earplugs

[Potapko]

I have read what is here about the problems with earplugs but this was not addressed. I do not have a problem with water in the ears but rather with noise. I am also clear on not putting anything like a hard earblocking plug in while diving. Is there anybody here who is knowledgeable in this area, who is also familiar with soft, sound-reducing inserts. Like the kind they sell at the hardware store for using while cutting the grass? Small, disposible, handy, and breathable.

I was going to try them on a shallow dive tomorrow to like 25 feet and see if they work well. Since they are soft foam, and air can penetrate them, I thought they might be perfect to reduce the bubble noise during a dive. Sometimes I will swim with my hands over my ears just to enjoy the quiet.

Wondering if their are other medical reasons I am unaware of not to do this

Hey, I enjoy the quiet,
thanks in advance

 

[crpntr133]

NO WAY!! DO NOT USE THEM!!!!
The soft ear plugs are just as dangerous as the others. Unless you have a pair that I haven't used, air won't penetrate them. Even if air did penetrate them I doubt that it would be enough to equalize your ears. The water pressure, no matter how deep, will force those puppies right into your ear canal.

Have you tried using some type of hood for the noise? Even if it is a tropical cap it would help.

 

[kf6cxf]

I have read what is here about the problems with earplugs but this was not addressed. I do not have a problem with water in the ears but rather with noise. I am also clear on not putting anything like a hard earblocking plug in while diving. Is there anybody here who is knowledgeable in this area, who is also familiar with soft, sound-reducing inserts. Like the kind they sell at the hardware store for using while cutting the grass? Small, disposible, handy, and breathable.

I was going to try them on a shallow dive tomorrow to like 25 feet and see if they work well. Since they are soft foam, and air can penetrate them, I thought they might be perfect to reduce the bubble noise during a dive. Sometimes I will swim with my hands over my ears just to enjoy the quiet.

Wondering if their are other medical reasons I am unaware of not to do this

Hey, I enjoy the quiet,
thanks in advance

try this link:

http://www.proplugs.com

i used the proplugs for scuba down to 125' with no problem.

 

[pasley]

...Is there anybody here who is knowledgeable in this area, who is also familiar with soft, sound-reducing inserts. Like the kind they sell at the hardware store for using while cutting the grass? .... Sometimes I will swim with my hands over my ears just to enjoy the quiet.

Not an expert, or qualified medical person.

My layperson concerns are that the soft foam inserts would not pass enough water (if they pass water at all) quickly enough to equalize your ears and would be pushed into your ear further by the pressure.

There is some noise you need to hear as a safety concern. Example the sound of a boat engine approaching. Worse the sound of a boat engine directly over head slowing down and stopping and/or going into reverse, a good indicator that an anchor is about to come crashing down. Heads up! :11:

Last of all, I have a question: What is making all the noise you are trying to get away from? Creatures of the sea (nature) or your own bubbles, or something else?

 

[fmerkel]

Yes, the proplugs with the equalization hole work. I've been using the for 4 years; warm and cold water. I tried warm water without them and found the regulator bubbling so obnoxious (I had gotten used to the "relative" quiet-it's still noisey) that I put them bck in and put a hood on.

DO NOT USE SOFT PLUGS AT THE RISK OF EAR INJURY!

Fritz

 

[Potapko]

I really do appreciate these opinions stated here by those concerned for my safety. However I am looking for someone with real experience in the area.

When these are inserted properly, which means halfway in and halfway out. The external portion expands so that it cannot enter the ear. I can push with my thumb and cannot get it into the canal fully. Anyway, thanks for your input.

I am diving in a hooded full suit in quarries mostly. When I get back to the states I will probably search out a pair of these proplugs. They look helpful.

 

[liberato]

...I really do appreciate these opinions stated here by those concerned for my safety. However I am looking for someone with real experience in the area.

Anyone with real experience with those foam earplugs probably isn't diving anymore. You absolutely should not even consider experimenting with them. The vented Doc's Proplugs will give you a small amount of sound attenuation and generally work well as long as preventing any water incursion into the outer ear canal is not one of your goals (which doesn't seem to be). A mask like the Proear 2000 will also help with sound attenuation but is a more complicated solution.

 

[pasley]

...When these are inserted properly, which means halfway in and halfway out. The external portion expands so that it cannot enter the ear. I can push with my thumb and cannot get it into the canal fully....l.

Uh, Huh. Ummm, now tell me, does your thumb pushing on the soft foam plugs squeese the plugs from all directions like the water under pressure will?

I have use these plugs as intended, and would not recommend them for your intended use.

Consider this, which is softer, the foam ear plugs or your neoprean wet suit? Which do we already know compress at depths below 20 feet? Want to bet the foam ear plugs will compress more than the neoprean? Think about it.

How about you take a set of foam ear plugs down in you pocket. Take somthing with you that can be used to measure their circumfrance both at the surface and at say 100 FSW. You could take a small container, cut a hole in the top about as big as your ear canal and then insert the pug into that. Do a dive to 100 feet and then check the plug.

 

[Potapko]

OK, OK, these last two posts convinced me. I'll leave these things for their intended use. Pasley, I didn't think about the compression of the plug itself, when smaller, it certainly could slip into the ear.

Thanks for getting me on track.
Jeff

 

[bwerb]

Whew...glad for the last post there Jeff...I was reading and starting to get concerned that we would be reading about your "test" in the "accidents and incidents" forum. Doc's Proplugs are the way to go...or a rebreather...