Can I use ear plugs this weekend while I am scuba diving?
I right now have a case of swimmers ear. Went diving on friday and now come monday it hurts. I am going diving this weekend and want to know if I can dive with earplugs or will I not be able to equalize. If it dont clear up by thursday I dont know what to do.
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Tags: diving, PLUGS, scuba, This, weekend
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Normal earplugs are not suitable for scuba because they create an air space in the outer ear between the plug and the eardrum which cannot be equalized. Increasing pressure will compress this air space and drive the earplug deeper into the ear, likely resulting in trauma to the outer ear and eardrum.
Earplugs that are vented, such as Doc’s Vented Proplugs, can be used while scuba diving. However, since they are vented they allow water into the ear and so I don’t know what the advantage of wearing them would be since the idea behind wearing plugs is to keep the ear dry.
The best option you have is to go see a doctor at Urgent Care and have them treat your ear. If they prescribe antibiotics the chances are your ear will feel fine by the end of the week. You can try to “self-medicate” with commercial or homemade swimmer’s ear solutions but they might not be effective since they are designed more for prevention of swimmer’s ear than as a treatment.