I just recently got certified while on vacation and have logged three dives
since my course -- all within a few days after my certification dives.
After the last dive my left ear had full /feeling and was ringing (and has
been for 10 days now) I saw my general practitioner and then an ENT a week
after the dive and was told I have serous otitis media (fluid in the middle
ear) from an ear squeeze.

On the last dive I had a little problem equalizing so I ascended until I
could clear, but after I got out I noticed my ear had a full / muffled
feeling and it was ringing.  I'm not sure if this one dive was the cause or
just "the hair that broke the camels back."  Nothing extremely bad seemed to
have happened.  I had a similar experience with clearing difficulty once
during a certification dive and I just ascended, equalized and returned --
just as I did this time but had no problems (no symptoms at least) after the
dive.  That is why I think it may have been an accumulation of fluid from
several dives (along with breath hold dives while snorkeling in other
locations)  I was in the water snorkeling or diving nearly every day, but
only noticed a problem after the last dive.

I have read stories of people that have had tinnitus ever since a dive, but
was curious about other peoples experiences with this.  I didn't experience
any vertigo or such symptoms, just the ringing and fullness.  Yesterday (9
days after the dive) I finally got the fluid (mucous and blood) to start
draining from my ear via my nose. I'm not sure if all the fluid is out yet
as my hearing is still poor at higher frequencies (above 5500 Hz) in the
effected ear and it is still ringing.  I'm currently taking pseudophedrine
(decongestant) and amoxicillin (antibiotic) along with 5 days worth of a
steroid that is supposed to help in case there is any inner ear damage.

If anyone else has had this... how long does it take for the hearing to
return to normal and/or tinnitus to go away? I know it depends on the extent
of the damage done, but just want some feedback from other peoples
experiences.  I have read that people have ended up with permanent tennitus
after a dive (though not necessarily caused entirely by the dive -- that
seems to be in debate) Anyway, I'm trying to be optimistic and hoping that
permanent tinnitus isn't going to be the case in my situation and that
everything will clear up in another week or two.