Recently I went to Cozumel for two weeks of diving. On the third day I woke feeling a "little off". Thought I might be getting a cold but had no congestion other than a slight post-nasal drip, which is not uncommon for me in the morning. Went diving at 11AM. Still not feeling 100%, but no congestion. No runny nose. Nothing. Dropped down to 60' or so with no problems equalizing. About 15 minutes into the dive I experienced excruciating piercing pain in my left ear. Went up slowly about 8' or so trying to equalize. Stopped trying to equalize and leveled off...just hanging out in pain. After about 20 seconds POW my eardrum burst. Pain gone...ear drum has a hole in it... Doc says 8 to 10 weeks no diving. So my question is, could I should I have done anything different? What do I do next time I "may" have a cold or am getting over a cold.