ear problems

[tonyxxx]

Has any 1 used the Pro Ear Mask, to prevent ear infections etc.
can you give me some info/feedback on the use of Pro Ear Mask?.
Is it a Good/bad bit of Kit?, dose it work?
thks

[John63]

Hi Tony,


I haven't used one myself so cannot give you direct comment but I know 2 people who dive with this mask. 1 is a professional instructor in the Philippines clocking up 2-3 dives a day and the oher is an occasional diver in the middle east. Both had experienced ear problems in the past (infections, equalisation etc) and since using the mask they have said that they no longer have any problems.

Cheers, John

[Odin]

Always use one when on a Red Sea trip.
I used to have big problems with soggy ears.
never had a problem since using a pro-ear.

I also have the hood for when I occassionally use it in the U.K.

they are both sea & sea products so your LDS should be able to order them from the nice people @ Sea & Sea Ltd
But - it does making everything sound louder!

Paul

[puddlediver]

A cheaper alternative which I use are the docs proplugs, sold at musician shops and I think one dive shop online. These are vented and I've used them for years, can clear, don't get infections, cheap - about £12 a pair.

Cheers

Lyv

[SoggyFox]

I found that if i'm careful cleaning my ears before diving, without using fingers etc then i have less infections. I guess from not scratching the skin of the ear canal, i use earex to clean my ears.

[Aquatic Mammal]

I used a pro-ear mask on a red sea liveaboard, no ear trouble at all! 6 months earlier, shore diving in Dahab my ear minged up again as reported elsewhere on this forum.

I rate the pro-ear as a good piece of kit, even if it does look a bit strange. You'll need to re learn your mask clearing technique as you've now got three areas to keep dry!!

Enjoy

[outlaw13]

I know a few people that use them and all swear by them once you get the hang of using them.
I too suffered from lots of ear problems but have been OK the past couple of years by taking better care of my inner ear, using Swim Ear after every dive but most importantly always using ear plugs when swimming in pools.

Cheers

[Sipadan]

i have been using a pro-ear for sometime now. if you're diving in blue water without a hood and have a shaved head, it's great. otherwise things get more complicated. if you're wearing a hood or have hair, you will need assistance from someone to don it properly. it's good, but not 100%.

[tonyxxx]

ok, i think i will firstly try the pro plugs, see if i can get on with these
thks

[Sipadan]

Tony, a bit about Pro-Plugs from an older thread:

basically it's an ear plug (surprise, surprise!) with a vent in it that allows for pressure changes. what they don't advertise is that the vent allows water in beyond a certain depth (10 metres I think). at less than this depth, surface tension is supposed to keep the water out. anyway, the upshot is that they don't keep your ears dry, but limit the amount of water that comes in contact with your ear. i'm not overly convinced, especially as you can't tell whether they are working or not because either way you end up with a wet ear. hope that makes sense.

I stopped using them and went back to the Pro-Ear mask. They're cheap enough and if they work for you as they do for puddlediver then you have a result.