How to keep ears dry on a liveaboard? AKA how not to get swimmers ear?

Texasguy · Feb 28, 2014

Going in a few months on a liveaboard for a week, they dive up to 5 times a day.

I never dove with such frequency, will my ears give me problems from being constantly wet inside? What is the best way to combat this?

vann evans · Feb 28, 2014

we always use a solution of 50% rubbing alcohol and 50% white vinegar after each dive. we use a medicine dropper and apply a small amount in one ear, leave it in your ear for about 30 seconds and turn your head sideways to let it drain out. Then do the same for your other ear.

never had a problem since we started using this method

Pedro Burrito · Feb 28, 2014

Bausch & Lomb Acetic Acid 2% in Aqueous Aluminum Acetate Otic (NDC 24208-615-77)

It requires a prescription. Lots of discussions about this on ScubaBoard. Here is one from 2011:

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/diving-medicine/397149-ear-troubles-need-good-advice.html

dfx · Feb 28, 2014

Pure alcohol ear drops for me.

uncfnp · Feb 28, 2014

Seems like every diver on SB has their own special recipe but vann evans has it right. Best bet is 50/50. The alcohol helps dry and can aid in eliminating any bacteria present. The vinegar helps make the canal less attractive for bacterial or fungal growth. Double whammy.

highdesert · Feb 28, 2014

Add a few drops of glycerin to the 50/50 solution suggested above. This prevents over-drying by the alcohol, which can lead to small fissures in the skin and a maddening itch.

doctormike · Feb 28, 2014

Drops are OK. What you want to do is dry the ear without a lot of water, so use mostly alcohol (isopropyl alcohol, or "rubbing alcohol") with a little bit of white vinegar to drop the pH and make your ear canal less hospitable to the common pseudomonas bacteria that often lives there. Say, a pint of alcohol with a few tablespoons of vinegar.

However, I don't recommend using this regularly for prevention, a thin layer of earwax is actually helpful in preventing swimmer's ear, and this can strip it out. I recommend this...

KeithG · Feb 28, 2014

Don't fix it if it ain't broke!

Ever bin at the beach all day?
what about standing out in the rain all day?
Do you have a history of ear problems?

If not then I suggest you should not panic prematurely.

There is nothing too magical about a live aboard. You will have lots of time to dry out between dives. Most liveaboards offer 5 dives a day, but few divers do all dives during the week.

GrumpyOldGuy · Feb 28, 2014

highdesert:
Add a few drops of glycerin to the 50/50 solution suggested above. This prevents over-drying by the alcohol, which can lead to small fissures in the skin and a maddening itch.

This is what works for me. The glycerin really helps the drying.

I have picked up swimmers ear diving, snorkeling or in the pool well over a couple dozen time. Each time I needed antibiotics and endured some rather nasty pain. I have a hearing loss now, most likely from these or other stupid things like lack of hearing protection (hence the name Grumpy). With me, its about a 1:50 change of taking a hit after a water activity. Diving is worst case, but snorkeling, swimming and surfing have all triggered it. When I rinse with the above, it is 0% chance. Not really and option any more. In a pinch, straight rubbing alcohol works too.

chillyinCanada · Feb 28, 2014

I'm with geffink on this one. I've rarely had a problem and don't treat my ears. If you often have problems that is different but if you don't, probably don't need to fret.

How to keep ears dry on a liveaboard? AKA how not to get swimmers ear?

Please register or login

Texasguy

Contributor

vann evans

Contributor

Pedro Burrito

Moderator

dfx

Contributor

uncfnp

Solo Diver

highdesert

ScubaBoard Supporter

doctormike

ScubaBoard Supporter

KeithG

Guest

GrumpyOldGuy

Contributor

chillyinCanada

ScubaBoard Supporter

Similar threads