While tympanostomy tubes are not common in adults they are not really all that unusual and it really is not anything that should require a dive ENT to answer. A call to DAN may be helpful as well as the linked article by DocVikingo. Even the ENT that placed the tubes should be able to give him appropriate advice. While prehaps not specific to diving, they deal with tubes and swimming routinely. And prehaps our resident diving ENT doctormike might post.
Diving With Medical Tubes And Ear Plugs?
- Thread starter Slashdaddy
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iamrushman
Contributor
why did you need the myringotomy in the first place?.....swimming and diving with tubes is a good question to ask your ENT who inserted the Tubes....(what color are the tubes?)...Here's some internet info for you.
In short, the same small ear tubes that allow air to flow in and out of the middle ear also present a potential entry point for water to get into the middle ear. Water in the ear is bad news: it can lead to drainage, ear infection, irritation of the middle ear, and other problems. This is why conventional wisdom dictates that kids and adults with ear tubes should make sure to keep the ears dry, especially when swimming or bathing.
In short, the same small ear tubes that allow air to flow in and out of the middle ear also present a potential entry point for water to get into the middle ear. Water in the ear is bad news: it can lead to drainage, ear infection, irritation of the middle ear, and other problems. This is why conventional wisdom dictates that kids and adults with ear tubes should make sure to keep the ears dry, especially when swimming or bathing.
A dryhood will keep you hair and ears dry. Not cheap, but dry. A neck seal is obviously not needed with this hood. Source: www.sukelluspukuloitokari.fi/yritys/index.html
Bratface
Contributor
There is a good article on this at Dan (Divers Alert Network). Tubes will fall out on their own and if there is no opening remaining, it may be possible. It's not recommended to dive with the tubes in place. Check with your ENT doctor, one who is affiliated with DAN if possible.
Ear Ventilation Tubes | Ears & Diving - DAN Health & Diving
Ear Ventilation Tubes | Ears & Diving - DAN Health & Diving
In the above article by DAN there is a claim that is not strictly true: "Diving is not recommended while the tubes are in place as they will allow water to enter the middle ear". It assumes that water can enter the outer ear, which really depends on the suit used.
ShrimpDaddy
Registered
I am not an ENT but I did sleep at a Holiday Inn once.
One does not need to be an ENT to keep the ears dry, but generally the above comment does apply. An informed professional (two words) is better than Scubaboard in medical issues. You may call me a sceptic 
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