[Mr T.]

Now I'm not saying this 'remedy' has the backing of the Royal College of Surgeons and their ilk (always please refer to a GP/MD - preferrably with a sound knowledge of SCUBA related conditions!), but when I lived out in Maldives (and before things like 'Swim Ear' were invented), we had to resort to 'bush medicine' when it came to resolving the wax build up that can often be the cause of ear blockages and equalisation problems.

So, what is the common ingredient that all these new fangle treatments have to attack the wax build up?? Alcohol!! Happy Daze ;)

If you find yourself in 'less than ideal circumstances' in-country, and yet need a treatment for this, you might want to consider getting some Vodka (pref Smirnoff Black Label, darlings) and tip it slowly into your ear. The alcohol will breakdown the wax and things should start to clear up.

Of course any drain-off can be collected immediately placed directly into the eye and the Vodka will take effect quicker than if ingested through the mouth! (Please ignore this last paragraph, as it's only for die-hard dive-junkies that have partaken in and passed 'Sickners 1 & 2').

Dive safe (and healthy),


(Edited by Bren Tierney at 11:03 pm on Dec. 15, 2002)