By Dr. Director (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #503) on Saturday, June 6, 2009 - 6:56 pm: |
Had an issue last November where I had to have my eardrum punctured to relieve fluid buildup after returning home. Am supposed to be okay for diving again but am considering using Doc's ProPlugs to make equalization easier. What is BTer's experience (recent or older) with ProPlugs? (I did a search and the last thread was in 2005 -- mostly positive.)
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By Ron Gould*** (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1960) on Saturday, June 6, 2009 - 8:32 pm: |
Diane, and I have been using pro plugs for the past 10 years. I am very suseptical to ear infections when diving. If I forget to put them in before a dive I will be in the doctors office 2 days latter. We really like them. Just keep them clean, and don't get them with the lanyard as they get pulled out of your head when geared up... Ron
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By R J (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #139) on Saturday, June 6, 2009 - 9:19 pm: |
I bought a set of pro plugs last year and really like them. They do help to reduce water getting to ear and gave no problem with them.
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By Vince DePietro-www.bonairebeachcondo.com (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2243) on Sunday, June 7, 2009 - 6:28 am: |
Dr. Director..I use them all the time when diving. Helps keep much of the annoying water out of the external ear canal.
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By Dr. Director (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #504) on Sunday, June 7, 2009 - 8:31 am: |
Ron, RJ and Vince,
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By Scott Phillips (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #622) on Sunday, June 7, 2009 - 11:12 am: |
Been using Pro Plugs for many years, not only for diving but also every day swimming laps at my gym. In ten years of swimming laps every day, I have never once had to do the "one leg hop with head tilted to one side dance" to get water out of my ears. Just make sure that you order the correct size for your ear and follow their fitting and insertion instructions. A great product IMHO.
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By Marcus L. Barnes (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1131) on Sunday, June 7, 2009 - 3:51 pm: |
Pro Plugs are meant to prevent ear infections in the ear canal aren't they? They don't help in opening the eustachian tubes and thereby properly equalizing the ears do they?
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By Vince DePietro-www.bonairebeachcondo.com (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2244) on Sunday, June 7, 2009 - 6:08 pm: |
Marcus..Part of their advertising is that they are also an aid to equalizing the pressure. I suspect this is due to the tiny hole in it which acts as to restrict the rate of pressure change vs nothing in the ear. Sort of like the way a water restrictor works inside a shower head.
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By Vann Evans (BonaireTalker - Post #75) on Sunday, June 7, 2009 - 7:06 pm: |
My experience with the pro Ear plugs is also positive. Every time that I spent a week diving I would get an ear infection. since I've been using the ear plugs I haven't had any problems.
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By Lori Mulhisen (BonaireTalker - Post #31) on Monday, June 8, 2009 - 9:32 pm: |
I am also a fan of Doc's Pro Plugs and never dive without them! I feel they do make equalization easier for me because, as Vince mentioned, they restrict the rate of pressure change vs. nothing in the ear. They are especially helpful for me when diving in the cold water of Lake Erie during the summer (65-70 degrees is cold for me) as the cold water rushing in the ear without the plugs would give me the "diver's reflex" (gasping for breath and difficulty catching one's breath after submerging the head in water). I do like the lanyard as I can hold the lanyard in my mouth when removing the plugs at the surface before stowing them in my BC pocket, but as someone else mentioned, the lanyard does tend to get caught on the first stage of my regulator. You can order them with the lanyard and easily remove it if you do not like it.
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By DJ (BonaireTalker - Post #65) on Monday, June 8, 2009 - 10:12 pm: |
Only negative I have found is that they limit your hearing under water.
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By a retired Grunt (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #816) on Monday, June 8, 2009 - 10:32 pm: |
I just returned from diving Bonaire May2-23 and have a bad right ear infection. My doc says no to my pool and to keep my ear dry even in the shower. I am going to try the Doc's Pro Plugs, red if I can find them, and I'll report back on how they work.
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By Vince DePietro-www.bonairebeachcondo.com (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2248) on Tuesday, June 9, 2009 - 5:46 am: |
Retired Grunt..You must use a solution in the external ear canal after diving to avoid otitis externa. Everyone has their favorities. Personally, I use a mixture of:
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By Dr. Director (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #507) on Tuesday, June 9, 2009 - 7:56 am: |
Vince,
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By a retired Grunt (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #817) on Tuesday, June 9, 2009 - 8:35 am: |
I use 1/3 distilled water, 1/3 rubbing alcohol and 1/3 white vinegar. We keep it in the truck and use it immediately after ending the dive. This year to the end of our three week trip the ear started acting up. That mix has always worked well before.
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By Angie Ohlson (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #171) on Tuesday, June 9, 2009 - 1:10 pm: |
Dr. Director,
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By Vince DePietro-www.bonairebeachcondo.com (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2249) on Tuesday, June 9, 2009 - 1:21 pm: |
[What is the purpose of the tea tree oil? ]
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By Dan Jolly (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1423) on Tuesday, June 9, 2009 - 1:50 pm: |
Has anyone tried the mask with ear cups attached by a tube to the mask for equalization. I know 2 divers that swear by this method.
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By Bas Noij (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #406) on Tuesday, June 9, 2009 - 2:10 pm: |
My personal recipe for 'ear juice' is similar to some of the above...but with one new ingredient. I got the recipe from a National Geographic underwater film crew in Malawi.
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By Marcus L. Barnes (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1136) on Tuesday, June 9, 2009 - 2:11 pm: |
I'd like to give the Pro Plugs a try. Does anyone know of a shop on Bonaire that sells them?
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By Gail T.*********** (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #4085) on Tuesday, June 9, 2009 - 2:13 pm: |
We use a concoction my Dr suggested. Equal parts alcohol, peroxide, white vinegar, and water. Alcohol for drying out, peroxide for any infection, vinegar for alkalinity, and the water merely to dilute it. We call it ear salad because it smells so good!
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By Aqua Paul (BonaireTalker - Post #49) on Tuesday, June 9, 2009 - 3:42 pm: |
The drug store in town on Bonaire sells divers ear drops for 5 guilders. It lasts for a week of hard core diving. Comes in a bottle with a squeeze type dropper. Not sure what is in it but I am sure there is at least some vinegar. The stuff works wonders, have not had any trouble since.
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By Dr. Director (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #509) on Tuesday, June 9, 2009 - 3:57 pm: |
Re Doc's ProPlugs, I just purchased a pair at my local dive shop (LDS). They have the "fit kit" to determine the right size, and were just over $12 for the pair, including sales tax. Doc's ProPlugs website (www.proplugs.com) has a link where you can request a list of dealers (dive shops) that carry them. Alternative is to buy them via Doc's website, but they require first-time buyers to buy a kit containing different sizes and then you can buy the specific size you need in the future. This is a much more expensive option than buying them at your LDS.
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By Scott Phillips (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #623) on Tuesday, June 9, 2009 - 5:06 pm: |
As of last fall, there was one shop on Bonaire that I know of that carried ProPlugs. I forget the name, but if you are walking south on the main street through town, past Mona Lisa on your RIGHT, it was the very last dive shop (or dive store I guess would be more appropriate) down on the left hand side, the place that also sells Teva sandals, Tshirts, and dive equipment. Almost at the end of town.
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By Ron Gould*** (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1965) on Tuesday, June 9, 2009 - 5:16 pm: |
Buddydive main shop handles Pro-plugs. I didn't look at them much as I carry 3 sets on vacation... Ron
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By R J (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #141) on Tuesday, June 9, 2009 - 8:01 pm: |
I purchased my set of pro plugs at Toucan Diving last year. They had the fitting kit and each size plugs.
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By Marcus L. Barnes (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1138) on Tuesday, June 9, 2009 - 8:12 pm: |
Outstanding. Thanks.
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By Lori Mulhisen (BonaireTalker - Post #32) on Tuesday, June 9, 2009 - 11:23 pm: |
Here is a link where you can print out the sizing guide for Doc's Pro Plugs: http://store.magicseaweed.com/image/proPlug.pdf. You can order them directly from the manufacturer online at: http://www.proplugs.com/
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By Maryanne Lysett (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #7) on Sunday, June 28, 2009 - 10:24 am: |
Since reading this thread, I've purchased Doc's ProPlugs and made several dives with them in a VERY cold quarry in TN. No more water sloshing in my ear, and no more vertigo...I love them! One tip re lanyard vs. no lanyard; my local dive shop only had the kind with the lanyard, but it is long enough to string thru my mask strap cover. That secures the lanyard, keeping it from getting hung up on gear, and also ensures that I don't drop or lose the plugs.
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By a retired Grunt (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #825) on Sunday, June 28, 2009 - 11:47 am: |
I bought a set and have been using them in my pool. So far they work extremely well.
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