There's an ear plug that's made for divers, Doc's Pro Plug, and I've spoken
with people that claim to love using them.  They make me nervous, however,
since there's only a tiny hole in them for equalization and if that should
get plugged with ear wax . . .

After each dive, I pop a couple of drops of the following homemade brew into
each ear.  The alcohol kills any bacteria, while the vinegar returns the
ear's pH level to near normal.  Obviously don't use it if you know or
suspect that you have a perforated eardrum (in which case you shouldn't be
swimming/diving anyway).  Also, make sure you equalize early and often.
What you describe as "swimmer's ear" may be fluid in the *middle* ear, not
in the outer ear canal.  Fluid in the middle ear did not get there from the
outside (unless you have a perforated ear drum); it came from the inside to
re-establish pressure.  This gives you a "fullness" in the ear that is very
annoying.  Equalizing early and often is the only way to prevent it from
happening in the first place.

25% rubbing alcohol
25% white vinegar
50% distilled water

http://www.fpnotebook.com/ENT32.htm

There are a lot of links there. Follow them to learn more.

General caution: do not clean your ears or do anything to them after swimming.
Q-Tips are the enemy. Your ear canals are very short, straight and drain all
by themselves. Cerumen (ear wax) is your friend! It is naturally acidic and
therefore anti-bacterial/fungal. It is also water repellant. Constant removal
and cleaning invites infections by removal of natural pH controls, increased
direct contact with water (swells ear tissue), as well as abrasion.

If your ears "itch" after swimming, use a 1:1 solution of white vinegar and
isopropyl alcohol. The vinegar makes acidic pH and the alcohol helps dry the ear.
Drop it in your ear but: Unless you leave in for at least *5 minutes* (each ear),
you are wasting your time.

Do not put any object in your ear! Not your finger, and especially not Q-tips. Do
not grab your ear lobe and shake it. After exposure to water the skin in the ear
canal is swollen to near bursting, and easily ruptured. Bacteria and fungus are
naturally occurring there, and any tear or rupture, no matter how small provides \
a foothold.

If you have low cerumen, a reasonable prophylactic course until your cerumen
gets to protective levels is to drop mineral oil (baby oil) in your ears *before*
swimming. This reduces water contact but also makes your hearing a little 'stuffy'
for a while. Some people don't like that, but it's way better than Otitus Externa.
I think this course is preferable to the vinegar/alcohol. It doesn't take as long,
and you don't smell like a salad.

I failed to take my own advice on a recent trip and very nearly lost 4 days
of diving in Fiji. Thank goodness the liveaboard kept Sofradex (a script medication)
in their medical chest for just such occasions. Highly effective with noticeable
results overnight.

I know absolutely nothing about anything and even less about ear medicine in particular.
The foregoing advice should not be believed or considered to be anything more than
unqualified folklore.

safe diving,

bullshark

Everyone here has offered some good advice.  I have minor problems with
swimmers ear, and I have found the 1:1 mix of isopropyl:vinegar works
extremely well.  But if you have serious problems with swimmers ear your
doctor may be able to prescribe you something better.  My brother is
extremely prone to swimmers ear (hecan get it by taking showers for too
long).  Our doctor prescribed him some antibiotic ear drops which worked
very well (15 dives over 5 days, no problems at all).  This may be
overkill for most, but if you are extremely prone to swimmers ear this
may be the way to go.

Bryan

Straight vinegar is all I use.  Get a small plastic bottle with spout
and it will last your entire trip.

Seeing your ENT about your condition and the offered remedies is wise.

The correct object size for sticking in your ear is nothing smaller
than your elbow (which should mean nothing).

Ron Lee

Hi Allen

If you look hard, you might get lucky and find an ENT Doc who is also a
diver, and thus knows what problems our ears face when diving.

;-> gjw

I've been diving since 1978.  No swimmer's ear.  You need to talk to a
doctor about your situation.  Don't seek a cheap fix from this NG.

Well I did go to a doctor (and ENT my doc reccomened, it costs the same) in
any case he gave me some acidic drops to use in my ears after I dive. He
also have me some antibiotic drops "just in case" to carry with me when I go
diving. He did not seem too concerned after examining me.

Sunday I will be doing my Open Water pool training from 9 to 5 so we will
see how I do after that..:)

Thanks for all the suggestions and opinions!

Allen