Question for you experienced free divers / scuba divers......

Any of you use this product? We've been carrying 'em at work and lately we've selling them like hot cakes. Anyone use 'em? What's your opinion on it? Please advise / thank you.

http://www.proplugs.com/

Do you dive?   



Not that I'm experienced or anything but I used a pair on my last dive.  Occasionally I used to get a little blast of cold water in my ears...now I don't.  They fit my ear comfortably and don't fall out.  Hearing is a little muffled but I don't think that can be avoided at all with any kind of earplug.  I'm really just using them as a preventative measure against long term exposure to cold water. 


When can we expect you on the water?

triatheles use them alot to keep that nasty bay water outa their ears.

Do you dive?     When can we expect you on the water?

  Hey Mooch, are you maybe getting into diving?   It's a "whole 'nother world" down there.   I didn't think I would dive here, but after being dumped at Van Damme last month, I realized that with a little more wetsuit, that it would be really fun, at least for some surface snorkling.  I used to do a lot of free diving as a teen in Guam.

Agarcia; to you get to the Mendo Coast much?  -Matt in Mendocino

Art, the web site says they "Helps ears equalize under water".  Is there any truth to that? Did they make it easier to equalize?

I don't know, I wasn't really paying attention but I would imagine this varies between individuals.  I'm about the least experienced person here, advice should probably be given someone who knows what they're doing 

Matt-
I just started diving last month and I've only been as far north as fort ross.  I will probably make it to Mendo next year.

Coming from 10 years of waterpolo and swimming experience I hate ear plugs. I tried them on several ocassions and was just annoyed with them. I am used to get water in my ears and never had problems with ear infections as long as I dropped a little rubbing alcohol in the ear after swimming. There is an over the counter product called swimmers ear that works great too. I buy the swimmers ear and refill with rubbing alcohol. Bear in mind that my depth in pools was limited to 15'. I did know a lot of swimmers that had to wear ear plugs so I guess each to their own.

The couple times I have been free diving my ears did get water in them but it didn't seem to affect equalizing for me.

-Brian G

Never used 'em.  I think Brandi Easter does though, and she's a pro.  It's true that it's different for different people.

Based on my Dad's experience with his ear canals narrowing due to cold water exposure (mostly from surfing), I'm re-thinking what I should do in terms of my ears... 

It sure looks like a good product.

Eric

I've been freediving from 10 to 20' (occasionally a little more) for over 20 yrs now. I have always had trouble equalizing my ears (and sinus), I have never had trouble with the water in my ears, it just runs out, immediately or eventually upon exiting the water, never caused a problem for me.

I had 2 different scuba instructors that said NEVER use ear plugs when diving. At any depth more than a few feet the water pressure WILL either push water past them or the pressure WILL push them into the ear canal. Neither situation is good for the ears.  

The idea is to equalize the pressure on both sides of the eardrum. In any case an ear plug would just interfer with that process.  If they kept the water pressure from reaching your eardrums on the outside then the internal pressure (from your compressed lungs at depth) would be higher on the inside of the eardrum which would be just as bad as having the pressure on the outside too high.

I take Sudafed (the real stuff) about 1 & 1/2 hours before I get in the water. Also about 15 minutes before diving I also hit my nose and sinus with a good shot of nasal spray.  I'd rather not use the drugs but my ears and sinus just don't clear well at all anymore. And I love being in the ocean, it's my church.

Even with all that said, those new plugs might go against what I think, I might try them but I'd be pretty careful about it.  A sudden pressure change to your ears can rupture the drums and/or there are a couple of other membranes in your inner ear that can be damaged as well.

And Mooch if you haven't started freediving yet, get with a careful, experienced diver for a day at Van Damme, once you get that first ab on your own there's no turning back the only thing better is spearing that first fish.

dale

Doc’s Proplugs have also been used by divers who have trouble equalizing. Unlike other earplugs which are solid and would not be recommended for diving, Proplugs are vented to allow equalization


The pro plugs designed for diving are clearly marked on the box, make sure you don't get the swimming/surfing version.

When can we expect you on the water?

well, my gout foot is getting better....I think I'm ready....just need to get invited

A

nd Mooch if you haven't started freediving yet, get with a careful, experienced diver for a day at Van Damme, once you get that first ab on your own there's no turning back the only thing better is spearing that first fish.

Yup, I'm waiting for Fuzz to get back to the main land for some pro pointers.

Not really into the ab thing......I'm more for the spearing

When can we expect you on the water?

just need to get invited

Available dates?  Looks like long period nw swell for the next couple of days, should drop on new years though.  You can roll with us then have fuzz straighten out all the bad habits you picked up from us when he's back   

What does a person have to know to surface-dive (goggles/fins/w-suit)...??...

Do particular things leap to mind that a person SHOULD know before diving?
Special warnings?   If so, what?

Without the consideration(s) that tanks and SCUBA bring into the thing....

Is it not perfectly safe to surface-dive alone?

I'd very much like to hear a commentary.

Judd

Mooch,

I have been wearing Doc's proplugs for about four or five years now.  Use only the vented version. 

Before I got the ear plugs, I would only last about two hours diving even in SoCal waters in the winter.  In Norcal, I was only good for a limit of abs and a little sight seeing.  The reason was the cold water rushing into my ears would cause them to ache after that time.  My ears couldn't warm the water up fast enough and my diving was affected in that I wasn't comfortable. 

I got the vented proplugs and now my ears aren't the limiting factor for staying out on the water.  The reason is that little hole allows small drops of water in and my ears have time to warm it up.  I think the ease of clearing is a result of the ears being warmer. 

If you haven't even dove yet, then I would advise you not to get them now.  Go a few times with the least amount of crap and get comfortable and enjoy the water without any pressure of killing something.  Pay attention to your body and gear up accordingly later.  You've got the best used gear place up there...Fuzz's apartment. 

Nate

THanks for the advise Nate. Points taken

I already scored dive fins from Fuzz....I might be able to MOOCH more stuff