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Scuba Diving after Perforated Eardrum

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DTS Contributor

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Having ear problems can severely impact scuba diving or freediving. It can, to an extent, also stop you from taking part in any water activities, such as swimming or snorkeling. But how serious is a perforated eardrum really? Should we be scuba diving after a perforated eardrum?

Scuba diving after Perforated Eardrum

Scuba diving involves equalizing the dead air space of a middle ear, to match the atmospheric pressure of water. This means both spaces are ‘equal’ and you won’t feel pain as you go under more pressure from the water. If you have a perforated eardrum, then water can enter the damaged eardrum, and your middle ear is no longer a dead air space.

This is not ideal for scuba diving as while you won’t need to equalize your ears anymore, it can cause lasting damage to your ears, your sense of balance, and your hearing. You will most likely get an ear infection that can be incredibly painful.

Find out the Different Ways to Equalize your Ears and why the Toynbee Maneuver is one of the easiest and safest methods to equalize your ears.

Signs and Symptoms of a Perforated Eardrum

Ear pain during descent that disappears quickly
You might even hear a noise in your ear as the eardrum ‘bursts’ or breaks under the pressure
Liquid draining from the ear, this can be clear, bloody, or a mixture of both
The ear might feel ‘full’ and there is hearing loss
Ears ringing (tinnitus)
Loss of balance
Feeling like you are spinning (vertigo)
Dizziness
Nausea and vomiting from the pain or vertigo

What is a Perforated Eardrum

A perforated eardrum or ruptured eardrum is when there is a hole or tear in the thin tissue that separates your ear canal from your middle ear.

The eardrum does two important things for your ears. The thin skin senses vibrating sound waves and converts vibrations into nerve impulses that tells your brain that there is a sound. This allows you to hear.

The eardrum also protects the middle ear from bacteria as well as water and foreign objects. Normally, the middle ear should be clean and sterile. But when the eardrum is broken, bacteria can get into the middle ear and cause problems.

How do you get a Perforated Eardrum

Common causes of a perforated eardrum include:

If you continue descending without equalizing the pressure in the middle ear
Blowing too hard during the Valsalva maneuver
A blow to your head or ear
Acoustic trauma (a loud noise too close to your eardrum)
Putting an object into your ear and poking your eardrum (this includes cotton buds!)

How to Avoid a Damaged Eardrum

When you are scuba diving or freediving, the most common way of damaging your eardrum is by diving with congestion and forcefully equalizing.

To avoid this, you should not dive when you are sick or congested.

However, if you are diving with a bit of congestion, then descend slowly and make sure that you are equalizing early and often. Try to use a descent line or a mooring line to hold onto so you can slowly go down. Let your buddies or dive guide know in advance that you may need more time when descending and communicate with them to signal if you are okay.

Remember to never push it. If you are having trouble equalizing then it is better to abort and end the dive, rather than push it, and damage your ear, thus stopping you from diving for weeks or even months.

Risks Associated with a Perforated Eardrum

The biggest risk associated with having a perforated or ruptured eardrum is that water and bacteria can get inside of your ear. This can cause painful ear infections if the water and bacteria remain in your ear.

Having a severe ear infection could also cause hearing loss in the long term.

How to Fix a Perforated Eardrum

Time will usually heal a damaged eardrum. The usual recommendation is 6 weeks, but you should check with your doctor who can refer you to an ENT (ear nose throat) specialist. They will be able to see inside of your ear with a camera and light to ensure the eardrum has completely healed up.

You should be keeping the ear dry and clean. For example; no swimming, snorkeling or other water activities. You may also need to keep it covered during your shower.

The ENT may recommend antibiotics or eardrops to combat existing infections. If you have pain from the perforated eardrum, the ENT may also recommend over the counter pain-killers.

In severe cases, the ENT may suggest surgery on your eardrum. This can involve placing a ‘patch’ over the eardrum to assist in healing. The doctor may also attach a piece of your own tissue to rebuild the damaged eardrum.

Can you Dive after a Perforated Eardrum

Opinions can differ on this matter. Some ENTs will err on the side of caution and suggest that you never dive again, but this would be devastating to a diver. It is best to go to an ENT who specializes in scuba diving as they will know what to check for and give you the all-clear.

As a scuba instructor, I have had many colleagues who have had perforated eardrums, and after a period of time (6 weeks to 3 months), they have been allowed to go scuba diving again. Please check with your doctor/ENT before getting into the water.

Boyle’s Law and Scuba Diving

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OCEAN

DTS Contributor

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One of the main concepts of physics explained in scuba diving is Boyle’s Law. At a glance, it is a simple expression of a pressure and volume relationship of gases. It can, however, get complex. For the purpose of this article, we are going to keep it simple. What exactly is the relationship between Boyle’s Law and scuba diving? And how does it affect us as scuba divers?

Boyle’s Law and Scuba Diving

Even though Richard Towneley and Henry Power first noted the relationship between pressure and volume in the 17th century, it was Robert Boyle that confirmed their findings by conducting experiments. He reduced the volume of a closed gas container using mercury and noted the proportional relationship or pressure and volume.

We don’t have Mercury available. So what about a balloon? We have a closed container of gas. Now if we were to pull this balloon underwater, the water pressure increases linearly with depth. That means our flexible, closed system of gas (balloon) will decrease in volume the deeper we pull it.

This looks like this:

Boyle’s Law Table

Depth

Surface

10m

20m

30m

40m

Pressure

1 bar

2 bar

3 bar

4 bar

5 bar

Volume

1

1/2

1/3

1/4

1/5

Density

1x

2x

3x

4x

5x

What is Boyle’s Law Formula

Now that we know that we are talking about a law that describes the volume of a fixed amount of gas in a closed container when the pressure changes, we know we need pressure and volume as parameters in our formula.

So that leaves us with starting volume & starting pressure and leaves us with ending volume & ending pressure. Therefore this is what the Boyle’s Law formula is:

P1V1 = P2V2

Where P1 is first pressure, V1 first volume and after the change we have P2 for the second pressure and V2 for the second volume.

Let’s apply this formula to a dive where we take a balloon with us.

The balloon at the surface is 2.3 litres in volume and we are at the surface, so 1 bar of absolute pressure.

We want to dive to 32 meters with this balloon. Therefore, according to the Boyle’s law formula, we have:

P1V1 = P2V2 and can therefore use V2 = P1V1 / P2

(1*2.3) / 4.2 = 0.5476

This means that the new volume of the balloon at 32 meters depth would be about 0.55 liters.

Since we don’t need to know exact volumes in scuba diving this is overkill. What we do need to understand is that the relationship of gas volume exposed to pressure is proportional. What does this mean for us as divers? For example, we need to add more physical air in order to achieve neutral buoyancy deeper. Furthermore, we cannot hold our breath and ascend. Knowing these facts is why you need to be certified in order to scuba dive.

As a result of gas volume decreasing with increased pressure, we also notice a gas’s density increase. Increased density in breathing gases leads to faster air consumption rates at depth.

Worst Ocean Invasive Species – The Top 5

OCEAN

DTS Contributor

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Worst Ocean Invasive Species – The Top 5

A big cause of environmental change is the invasion of non-native species. Here we look at the top 5 worst ocean invasive species that are currently blighting our oceans.

Invasive species can be moved around the world by latching onto ships or being carried by ballast water. They can be transported accidentally with other cargo. Or used as pets then discarded into the wild. Or be released deliberately into different habitats for commercial purposes.

The problem with this is that these species’ may not have a natural predator and may thrive in a new environment. While this could be a good thing, often it is not. As the species can consume and take over the local habitat, this drives local species’ out or destroys them completely.

Check out our Top 10 Most Dangerous Marine Animals.

Worst Ocean Invasive Species

Northern Pacific Seastar

Scientific Name: Asterias amurensis
This seastar was originally found around Japan, South Korea, and Russia. They have now made the long journey down to the southern coasts of Australia. While its natural habitat is a chilly 7-10°C, it has developed a tolerance and now thrives in warm temperatures of up to 25°C.

The seastar is a ‘voracious feeder‘ and will consume gastropod molluscs, barnacles, scallops, crabs, crustaceans, worms, sea urchins, sea squirts and more. And has even been discovered eating other seastars, dead fish and fish waste if no other food is available! Crikey!

Why is the Northern Pacific Seastar one of the worst ocean invasive species?

Because it eats everything! It is a ‘mariculture pest’ that has affected marine farms and cost millions of dollars in marine farming.

Green Crab

Scientific Name: Arcinus maenas
This green crab originated from Europe and was commercially fished for years. However, due to its wide tolerance in habitat, these crabs have thrived and pose a serious threat to delicate ecosystems around the world.

Green crabs can tolerate temperatures ranging from 0 to 33°C, salinities from 4 to 54, starvation for up to 3 months, and air exposure in damp burrows for up to 10 days, giving them the upper edge against native crabs.

Why is the Green Crab one of the worst ocean invasive species?

Because it is a predator that has been credited as single-handedly (or single-claw!) bringing down the soft-shell industries in several regions of Canada and the United States!

Lionfish

Scientific Name: Pterois
There’s no denying that lionfish are impressive looking creatures. They are also very popular with photographing divers and snorkelers. However, their lack of natural predators has made this quite the invasive species when introduced into new habitats.

The lionfish is a predator native to the Indo-Pacific region. But globally they became very popular in the aquarium trade. This has led them to successfully invade the areas around the United States, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean where they destroy the local eco-systems due to a lack of predators.

Read More: Is a Lionfish Poisonous or Venomous?

Why are Lionfish one of the worst ocean invasive species?

A study in the Bahamas found that a single lionfish per reef ‘reduced young juvenile fish populations by 79 percent in only a five-week period.’ So the baby fish don’t stand a chance!

Crown of Thorns Starfish

Scientific Name: Acanthaster planci
Known as a ‘corallivore,’ these impressive-looking starfish feast on coral which has devastating consequences on our marine eco-system.

A single crown-of-thorns starfish can graze on ten square metres a year of coral and an individual female can produce up to 60 million eggs per year. You do the math here!

Why is the Crown of Thorns starfish one of the worst ocean invasive species?

These starfish, along with storm damage, coral diseases, and temperature-related stresses, are recorded as the most damaging to coral reefs. Apart from our next invasive species…

Humans

Scientific Name: Homo sapiens
Ah, the worst invasive species for last! These guys have spread all over the globe. Humans breed slowly but due to their extensive numbers, the total population is consistently growing.

Humans have cleared land, purposely or inadvertently caused floral and fauna extinction, consumed natural resources, and have claimed the ocean too. Their negative impact on our oceans include; mass fishing, general pollution, sunscreen use, kicking of coral, marine life poaching and more.

Why are humans the worst ocean invasive species?

Because we actually introduced all of the invasive species included in this list, around the world!

Let us know if you think there are worst ocean invasive species that should be included in this list. Do you think humans take the top spot?

What is RAID and how do I get certified?

DIVE

DTS Contributor

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What is RAID?

RAID is a scuba diving training agency that was initially founded with a focus on rebreather training, specifically the Poseidon Mk VI Discovery Rebreather. RAID has since expanded to include recreational diving courses from beginner to professional levels.

RAID offers an extensive range of technical and rebreather courses as well as recreational scuba diving courses. You can also take freediving courses with RAID. RAID schools around the world conduct RAID diver training according to global standards with a focus on teaching divers buoyancy first. Considerable time is spend to get new divers into trim diving positions during skills practice. Often the instructors wear diving gear built for technical diving and even students often use side-mount or wing equipment during their beginner courses.

You can dive around the world once you hold your RAID diving certification. Like other organizations, you are limited to dive within your certification’s limits.

Do you to be certified to go diving at all?

What does RAID stand for?

RAID stands for the Rebreather Association of International Divers and was established in 2007 by Barry Coleman. The organization’s motto is ‘dive training in a class of its own’.

How Do I Get My RAID Certification?

To get certified with RAID, you would take your Open Water 20 course at any RAID dive center. All of RAID’s learning materials are digital and you will work through these on your own. A certified RAID instructor will then work through the knowledge with you as well as conduct confined skill training sessions and finally open water dives.

What is the minimum age to dive with RAID?

The minimum age for a dive experience with RAID is 10 years old. A 10 year old can participate in their non-certifying program called a ‘Try Dive’ or take the Junior Scuba Diver course.

The minimum age at which RAID issues a certificatino is 10 years old with additional junior depth restrictions and taylored learning materials.

Children that scuba dive are subject to different depth restrictions and special requirements.

The minimum age to become a Pro Member of RAID, such as a Divemaster or Instructor, is 18 years old.

Can I Snorkel with Contact Lenses?

SNORKEL + FREEDIVE

Emma Ong - PADI MSDT

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Snorkeling is a fun and inexpensive activity that can be done anywhere with water and a snorkeling or diving mask. But what about the people who don’t have 20/20 vision and need to wear prescription glasses on a daily basis? Can I snorkel with contact lenses? Well, lucky for those who are short or long-sighted, but yes, you can still partake in this super fun activity! There are just a few considerations to think about and some tips to follow to ensure you can snorkel when wearing contact lenses.

Can I Snorkel with Contact Lenses?

Yes, you can most definitely snorkel with contact lenses! In fact, you can wear contact lenses in the ocean and it is completely safe. There is no reason to miss out on the amazing things underwater. However, here are a few things to consider before snorkeling with contact lenses.

A blue mask and a black snorkel. — Can I go snorkeling when wearing contact lenses?

How Do I Prepare for Snorkeling with Contact Lenses?

Contact lenses are a modern marvel, and yet can still be a bit awkward. You will need to make sure that you have clean hands before putting in your contact lenses. This is because if you have dirt on your hands, this can be transferred into your eye which may lead to infection.

You will also need to make sure that you don’t have any sand or debris on your hands when putting in your contact lenses. This can irritate your eye and cause you discomfort before you even get into the water!

Try to put the snorkeling mask on before you enter the water. This ensures that water will not splash into your eye when jumping in.

Will the Salt-Water Sting my Eyes?

I’ve been a contact wearer for over a decade, and a scuba diver for seven years and the salt-water has never irritated my eyes. However, you may find that your eyes are more sensitive.

If you are worried about the salt-water stinging your eyes, then try to adjust and put on your mask before hitting the water. If water does get into your mask, then just close your eyes, take off your mask, wipe the water off your face, and place the mask back on, before opening your eyes again.

Risks of Snorkeling with Contact Lenses

The risks are minimal and rare but can happen. These include:

Sand or dirt going into your eye and irritating your contact lenses
Water splashing into your eye and irritating your contact lenses
You may rub your eye more often
The contact lens can slide or fold over in your eye
The contact lens could slide out of your eye

Tips for snorkeling with contact lenses

Wear your mask before you enter the water
Take off the mask only when you are back on the boat or on shore
Don’t rub your eyes
Close your eyes when clearing or adjusting your mask

Other tips for Snorkeling with Contact Lenses

If you are on a day trip to the beach, then I would highly recommend you take a spare pair of contact lenses with you. You should also carry a small bottle of contact lenses solution or saline.

This is because there is the chance of some sand or debris getting into your eye. The best way to clean this out straight away is by dropping some contact lenses solution into your eye to wash away the dirt. If it is very irritating, then you can take the lens out, rinse it in the solution and put it back in, or replace it with a new lens.

What other options are there instead of Contact Lenses?

If you are not a contact lens wearer, or you do not want to wear them for snorkeling, then you can look into alternatives to contact lenses. These include:

Getting a Prescription Mask

PRO:
The glass lenses will be made according to your specific prescription and can be adjusted for your Left and Right eye.

CON:
These can be costly but will be a worthy investment as long as your prescription does not change too much over the years.

Getting Stick-on Prescription Stickers

PRO:
Inexpensive, and can be easily replaced if your prescription changes.

CON:
The stickers can wear out over time and peel off.

Wearing your Glasses under the Mask

PRO:
You can use your normal eye-glasses, and you can still see when you take off the mask.

CON:
It can be uncomfortable wearing your glasses and a mask over it. There is a risk you can break your glasses during an activity like snorkeling.

Going without Glasses or Contact Lenses

PRO:
Water makes objects appear closer and larger in the water. This means if your prescription is not that strong, then the water may actually improve your eyesight.

CON:
The water will not suddenly give you 20 / 20 vision. You will also still need glasses when you exit the water.

If you are wondering can I snorkel with contact lenses, then the answer is a clear YES. But you will need to consider some factors to ensure that you do not get a risk of infection, or lose a contact lens in the water. Make sure that your hands are always clean when touching your eyes. And try to keep water away from the eyes so that it does not irritate or move the contact lens. Snorkeling is a fun activity that no one should miss out on, and by following a few basic tips, you can ensure you won’t miss out either!