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How Long Can Water Stay in Your Ear?

DTS Contributor

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Had a fantastic day at the beach and now trying to have a chat and you can’t hear anyone properly? It is quite common among surfers, snorkelers and scuba divers. You don’t want to be the person hopping around on one leg whacking yourself in the head trying to get the water out. Water in your ear is very common, yet a little annoying. That’s why a lot of people ask me how long can water stay in your ear?

How Long Can Water Stay in Your Ear?

Most commonly water can remain in your ear from several hours up to 1-2 days. It depends on the person and their ear anatomy as well as earwax production. Furthermore, it will depend on the intensity and type of water activity.

Symptoms

The first symptom of water stuck in your ear is often a full feeling of one or both ears. Almost as if something is gently pushing against your ear drum. Sounds appear distorted, alternating between loud and muffled.

If you can’t get water out of ear, you might be at risk of swimmer’s ear or otitis externa. Symptoms of swimmer’s ear include:

Inflamed and itchy ear canal
Mild pain in your outer ear and near your eardrum
Clear drainage from your ear canal

This is most common when water is unable to drain within a few hours. Water stuck in your ear canal provides an ideal breeding ground for bacteria to grow. This can lead to more severe ear infections.

Ear Pain

If you are experiencing pain in your ear you need to contact your doctor immediately. Mild swimmer’s ear if ignored can turn into an ear infection. If left untreated these can lead to permanent damage to your ears resulting in hearing loss.

Feeling water in ear for days, or even water stuck in ear for weeks is definitely a warning sign to see a doctor. Some people even report water in ear for months. In this case, there might be a more severe cause and we recommend seeing a doctor immediately.

How to get water out of your ear when nothing else works?

It can be rather annoying to have blocked ears for several hours every time you hit the water. But there is no easy way to prevent water from getting stuck in your ear apart from avoiding the water altogether.

Some people recommend using special earplugs for water activities.

Read Reviews

Alpine SwimSafe Swimming Ear Plugs

Waterproof Ear Plugs for Swimming
Keeps Water Out and Prevents Swimmer’s Ear
Comfortable Hypoallergenic Swim Ear Plugs
Reusable Earplugs for Swimming

Just remember that these are impractical for scuba diving. Being able to equalize easily is paramount when free diving or scuba diving. These earplugs are best for swimming or splashing around in a pool or at the beach!

If you are planning on descending and going underwater, then there are special scuba diving masks that keep your ears “dry” when diving. You will need to ensure there is a proper seal around your ears for these to work.

Check it out

IST ProEar Dive Mask with Ear Covers

EASY CLEARING — Unique tube & seal system makes equalizing easier.
PREVENTS EAR ACHE — Eliminates pressure-induced ear pain.
BETTER HEARING — Enhances sense of sound under water.
WATERTIGHT CUPS — Keeps water out and prevents Swimmer’s Ear.
COMFORTABLE FIT — Head strap maximizes surface area to eliminate squeezing or pinching

So if it is severe, how do doctors get water out of your ear? They use a number of techniques such as positioning your head in a way to have water drain more efficiently. They use massage techniques on your eustachian tube to aid your body by dislodging the water. Sometimes they might even gently suction the water out using their hands to create a vacuum.

So what can you do yourself?

From experience the most effective methods to clear water out of your ears are:

Laying down and let the water drain
Spend time in an air-conditioned room since the dry air will help evaporate the water
Carefully using a hair dryer or warm towel to lay on in order to warm the air and evaporate the water

A lot of new scuba divers are prone to having water stuck in their ears for a few hours after their confined sessions or first ocean dives. This is often caused by their prolonged efforts to equalise their ears. This can sometimes lead to slight inflammation of the ear drum and canal or swelling of the eustachian tube. This can lead to narrower passages or water getting stuck due to its surface tension.

In most cases my advice is to lay down on that side and let it drain naturally or use the air-conditioner for a few hours. Especially diving in tropical Thailand, where the humidity is often in the high nineties. You can read more tips on how to get rid of blocked ears after diving.

You asked how long can water stay in your ear? In short, it should not stay in your ear for more than a few hours. If any symptoms arise such as itchiness and discomfort after several hours, you might be getting swimmer’s ear. In this case, consult a doctor.

How Long Does a Scuba Certification Last

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How Long Does a Scuba Certification Last

Getting your scuba certification is an exciting step into the underwater world. Some people will take their scuba certification course at home. However, the vast majority of students will take their scuba courses during their holidays in a tropical destination. So how long does a scuba certification last? What if you don’t get the chance to dive often; will the certification ‘run out?’

How Long Does Scuba Certification Last?

Your scuba diving certification will not expire. However, dive agencies will highly recommend that you dive frequently. This is so that you won’t forget basic scuba diving skills or important safety procedures. It is a good idea to keep practicing these as your confidence level will grow and your scuba diving skills will become second nature.

Review what divers should do for their own safety.

Scuba Refresher Course

If you do not get the chance to dive often then you can always take a ‘refresher course.’ This is where you will review your skills with a dive professional. This is a mixture of theory and practical where you will practice scuba diving skills and emergency procedures again.

A scuba refresher course is not a full diving course and will usually only take a few hours to complete. Depending on the dive agency, there may be compulsory skills to practice. Your dive professional will also usually ask if there is anything further that you would like to ‘refresh.’ For example; practicing more buoyancy skills, feeling more comfortable with clearing your mask, reviewing hand signals, etc.

Refresh your memory on how scuba divers go up and down using buoyancy.

When do I need to take a ‘Refresher?’

The general rule is that if you have not dived for 6-12 months, then it is a good idea to take a refresher course. Dive agencies will differ in their recommendations, but there is no law or strict rule about this. It will be up to the dive center or your instructor to decide if you need to take a refresher course. This will be based on your past diving experience, any factors that may have changed your diving capabilities, and exactly how long ago you last went on a dive.

For example: If an Open Water diver has 4 dives, and has not dived for 7 months, they may need to refresh their diving skills as they do not have much experience.

However, if a Rescue diver has 50 dives but has not dived for 13 months, then they may not need to do a refresher based on their experience level and the number of dives they have.

Some signs you need a Refresher

You can’t remember the dive hand signals
You don’t remember how to set up and check your diving equipment
You don’t know the Buddy Check
You can’t remember what to do if you or your buddy run out of air
You feel anxious or nervous about getting back into the water

Remember, you might feel comfortable in the water but ultimately it will be your instructor and the dive center to decide if you need a scuba refresher or not. This is because how you act in the water will also impact the safety of your dive leader and the rest of the dive group.

How to keep diving without diving

If you do not get the chance to dive often, that’s ok. You can continue practising diving without even getting wet!

When you were scuba certified you will have received either a hardcopy or digital copy of the dive theory. This is usually a textbook treasure trove of diving knowledge; physics, physiology, the name of different parts of the dive equipment (do you remember what an LPI is?), information about the aquatic environment, and characteristics of marine life!

Our recommendation is to regularly go through and review your scuba materials so that you keep that knowledge fresh in your mind. You can also go online and use a resource like Down to Scuba for the latest information on diving and any new scuba updates!

What Thickness Wetsuit do I Need

EQUIPMENT

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As a scuba diver, it is imperative to pay special attention to the water temperature as you prepare for a dive so that you stay comfortable and, most importantly, safe. When deciding what thickness wetsuit do I need, you will need to consider the water temperature you will be immersed in.

The human body loses heat much more rapidly in water than in air, a rate that increases as the water temperature decreases. Fortunately, clever developments in materials technology mean that humans can dive in all of the world’s oceans with the right level of exposure suit. (For near-freezing temperatures you’ll need the right mental attitude, too!).

What Thickness Wetsuit do I Need

Infographic on wetsuit temperature guide scuba, snorkel, surf & more

When to wear a thin skin suit or rash guard

In truly tropical waters, such as diving in Thailand or the Caribbean, many divers will choose to dive in a “skin suit” or a rash guard – a very thin layer which prevents the BCD rubbing on the skin, and blocks out the sun’s harmful rays.

Find out how rash guards can keep you warmer.

Many divers do not think about sunburn or sunstroke whilst diving, but the sun’s radiation can still affect you underwater and so it is always advised to use at least a thin skin suit that covers most of your body. Sunburn leads to dehydration which leads to bad news for scuba divers!

When to wear a wetsuit

In warmer climates, the most common form of exposure suit is the wetsuit. They vary in thickness from 2mm to 7mm, and are excellent at keeping you at a comfortable temperature on a dive.

Local dive shops should always be able to give you the best recommendations for your chosen dive site and time of year.

It is worth noting that thicker wetsuits can start to restrict mobility if you are not used to them, and divers should be aware of this and comfortable in their gear before starting a dive.

When to wear a drysuit

If diving in a cold country such as Norway, where it can get below a certain water temperature – around 16℃ for most people – some dives require a different type of suit. In contrast to the wetsuit, the drysuit should keep everything but your head and hands completely dry.

With in-built boots and tight latex or neoprene seals at the wrists and neck, drysuits trap a layer of air – an excellent insulator – between the suit and your skin. As with thicker wetsuits, drysuits can further restrict your mobility and, in some cases, feel claustrophobic.

In addition to the lungs and BCD, the layer of air in the drysuit can also be manipulated to aid a diver’s buoyancy. They contain a chest valve with hose attachment for pumping air in, and generally a shoulder or wrist valve for dumping air out.

Most organizations treat drysuit diving as a completely separate skill, and offer a specialized certification. If you are new to drysuit diving, it is always recommended to gain complete confidence in a drysuit first before attempting more challenging dives.

Read more about how a drysuit works and things to consider when using a drysuit.

When to wear a semi-dry suit

For divers at “inbetween” temperatures who want something more substantial than a wetsuit, but do not fancy the unfamiliar sensation of a drysuit, then a “semi-dry” suit may be the most appropriate. A sort of halfway house between the two, a semi-dry does let water in, but has tighter seals at the neck, wrists and ankles. This stops water from “flushing” through the suit, and the layer of water trapped against the skin is warmed up by the body over time.

If you know the water temperature of your next dive, then head over to our wetsuit temperature guide to find out ‘what thickness wetsuit do I need’ to ensure your comfort and keep you feeling nice and warm!

Q&A with a Freediving Instructor

Emma Ong - PADI MSDT

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Today we chat to Britney Ouellette, a freediving competition winner with a personal best of 55 meters. She currently dives and teaches in Grand Cayman.

How long have you been freediving?

I have been freediving for almost five years now. As a scuba diver, it was something I was curious about but wasn’t brave enough to try. When I moved to Grand Cayman my roommate and I had the same days off and he had been freediving recreationally for years. He forced me to go out with him a few times and even though we stayed shallow I was always very nervous. After maybe the fourth or fifth time out something clicked and I realized it wasn’t as scary as I had built it up to be. I ended up falling in love with the sport and I took my level one course with a friend here in Grand Cayman. Since then, I have been freediving as much as possible.

Freediver underwater swimming through a bubble — Photo courtesy of Britney Ouellette

What are the different freediving styles?

Constant Weight No Fins – when you descend and ascend by swimming without the use of fins or without pulling on the rope

Constant Weight – descending and ascending by kicking with either bi-fins or a monofin and without the use of your arms.

Free Immersion – is done without any propulsion equipment. You descend and ascend by pulling yourself on a rope.

Static – In a pool, holding your breath without moving.

Dynamic (with or without a fin) – In a swimming pool doing laps either with a monofin, bi-fins, or no fins.

What is the deepest you have been down to, and for how long?

The deepest I have been to is 55m in constant weight which is normally around a two-minute dive for me. When you attempt a depth dive you typically do not focus on extending the time of your dive.

The longest I’ve held my breath is 5:02 min during a static dive.

Freediver swimming up in black and white — Photo courtesy of Britney Ouellette

Is freediving a more mental or physical challenge?

I would say it is a split of 60% physical and 40% mental. There is a lot of physical training involved but if you are not in the right headspace it is easy to convince yourself that you will not be able to do the dive.

I try to work out regularly both with weights and lane swimming but during training for a competition I had to step it up a lot. I was either adding yoga, weight training, lane swimming, or running into my daily routine. As well cut out dairy from my diet which helped clear out mucus from my sinuses.

Enjoying this Q&A? Read more stories and interviews with divers at Down to Scuba.

What relaxation methods do you use before diving?

One thing that really works for me is visualizing my dive. I lay on a yoga mat and do everything from the full breath up then talk myself through what I am going to do and feel at different depths.

Then when I am breathing up for a deeper dive I try to visualize I am breathing in positive energy and exhaling negative energy and that always calms me down. Sometimes I still have jitters after that so then I just tell myself to put on my big girl pants and just do it. That always makes me laugh at myself and it calms me down.

Britney Ouellette freediver, showing us her dive computer — Going deep in Grand Cayman with freediving instructor Britney. Photo courtesy of Britney Ouellette

What are the logistics of attempting such a deep dive.

55 meters really isn’t a deep dive compared to depths a lot of other competitive freedivers dive to. There are still logistics of diving that deep but it is also about being in tune with your own body and believing in yourself.

One thing that took me a while to learn is called the mouth fill technique. As we descend to deeper depths and pressure increases we have to pull air from our lungs and store it in our mouth so we are able to equalize. For me, this took a long time to learn and a lot of practice on land. But once I learned this technique, I was able to quickly go from a personal best of 40m to 55m.

Describe your experience at 55 meters depth.

I remember in my head thinking “Oh I’m here, well, wasn’t that easy”.

55m below the surface is quite similar to 30m down here in Grand Cayman. We have dramatic walls that we dive beside that are covered with coral and marine life and it’s quite beautiful. Some of the walls are so dramatic, they drop down like a steep cliff covered with marine life while other areas slowly slope down with a sandy bottom.

Tell us about the Deja Blue Competition.

Deja Blue is an international freediving competition hosted by Performance Freediving International (PFI) in the Cayman Islands. The competition was composed of six disciplines which included three depth (Constant Weight, Free Immersion, and Constant Weight no fins) and three pool disciplines (static, dynamic, and dynamic no fins)… Continue reading

Read Part 2 of Britney Ouellette’s Interview

Types of Scuba Certification – Beginner and Pro

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Types of Scuba Certification – Beginner and Pro

Scuba diving is a fun and exciting way to explore the underwater world. And the more you do it, the more you want to continue! So let’s look at the different types of scuba certification and scuba diving certification levels and the differences between them.

Find out how long your scuba certification will last.

Types of Scuba Certification

Beginner Scuba Diving Certification Levels

Scuba Diver
Some dive agencies (SSI, PADI etc.) offer a Scuba Diver certification. This allows people to dive down to 12 meters with a dive professional’s supervision. It is a proper dive certification with a mixture of dive theory and practical skills.

Open Water
The Open Water course is the most popular beginner diving course. This allows people to dive down to 18 – 20 meters / 60 – 65 feet (depending on the dive agency), and is a mixture of dive theory and practical skills.

This certification allows you and another certified Open Water diver to dive together with no professional supervision. The course is comprehensive and teaches you safety procedures and basic navigation skills.

How old do you have to be to scuba dive?

Advanced Diver
Taking your Advanced Diver certification requires several dives with different components. These include but are not limited to; Deep dive, Navigation dive, Buoyancy dive, Night dive, Search & Recovery dive, Drift dive, Drysuit dive, Computer dive, Fish Identification dive.

During these dives, you will learn more about the theory behind that specific dive and practice the skills in the open water. This course is fun with an emphasis on diving, diving, diving, and improving your underwater skills.

Advanced Scuba Diving Certification Levels

Rescue Diver
The Rescue diver course is challenging and highly rewarding. Now that you are comfortable with your diving skills, you will practice responding to anxious divers and ‘rescuing’ panicked divers. There is little emphasis on diving in this course, and more emphasis on how to calm a panicked diver, how to get them out of the water, and the procedures with responding to an unconscious diver.

Read More: Rescue Diver Equipment Checklist

This course should only taken when you are very comfortable with your own buoyancy and diving skills. It is a great course for every recreational diver, as there have been many cases when someone has had to rescue their dive buddy in a real-life situation.

Specialty Diver
Focusing on specialty dives is a great way to channel your interests into diving. If you are keen on marine life, then you may choose to complete a Fish ID specialty. Or if you love shipwrecks, then you can choose the Wreck specialty to learn how to enter and penetrate a wreck safely. These specialties are usually a continuation from the Advanced Diver course where you can go more in-depth into a specific topic/dive component.

If you complete 5 specialties, you can receive the highest non-professional level in recreational diving. The Master Scuba Diver certification.

Find out the maximum age for scuba diving.

Professional Scuba Diving Certification Levels

Dive Master
As a Dive Master you can guide certified divers, work on dive vessels, assist an instructor on courses, and with some dive agencies, you can review certified divers with a refresher course. Being a Dive Master (DM) is a pre-requistie to being a scuba instructor.

The Dive Master course is one of the best experiences in your life (from my experience). You review your own knowledge when assisting on courses, upskill your diving to a professional level, have more responsibilities, all the while having fun. It is similar to an internship as you see most facets of a dive business, and will usually take around 4-8 weeks to complete.

Read More: Typical Divemaster Salary in Thailand

Scuba Instructor
Being a Scuba Diving Instructor is pretty badass. You have to be very responsible, make the courses fun and engaging for your students, AND teach scuba diving. The Scuba Instructor courses are around 10 to 14 days with an Instructor Exam (IE) at the end. In this course, you mostly learn about how to teach divers, how to adhere to the dive agency standards and how to respond to situations while teaching.

The above courses are the main types of scuba certification, with beginner, advanced, and professional levels. You will generally need to do these in order, and some specialties may have specific pre-requisites. There are different types of scuba certification for specialties that we have not included here, as these will differ between your chosen dive agency.