The Neptune Warrior

I have weeks where I am in the water non stop. The current streak is 32 days with three more to go then one day off. Sometimes it’s twice a day. I rack up more time than James Bond on a secret mission.

Keeping my ears and sinuses healthy is vital in my work. I take extra precautions to ensure I don’t get sidelined and not able to dive. In this post I’m going to focus on ear health.

Prevention is number one. Because I dive ponds, lakes, and public pools my ears can pick up all kinds of nasty stuff. For me a good preventative suck as a LIGHT smear of olive oil, Mullen oil, or Ear Shield provides a protective barrier for the ears. I apply right before a dive.

After a dive I use a concoction my Dive Instructor taught me. Just a few drops helps to get water out of the ear, but be cautious of over drying. The recipe is simple.

1/3 purified water, 1/3 white vineger,1/3 90% isopropyl rubbing alcohol. This works to kill bacteria and dry water in the ears

One other consideration is ear plugs that are designed specifically for diving. These can be purchased In a dive shop. They will help to protect ears and not squeeze into the ear canal like other ear plugs.

Taking care of ears is vital to maintaining your recreational dive career.