I did it!

FishyBiz · #1 08/08/2005, 10:44 AM

I finished my last dive yesterday and am now PADI certified. We went to Pic-nic beach in Laguna and it was during red tide. Not very fun but still an experience. The only bad thing is I have an earache in both ears and my pinky toes are but swollen and feel broke

I cant wait to log some dives!

luminary · #2 08/08/2005, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by FishyBiz
it was during red tide

ugh...be carefull going in the water when there's red tide, people get sick from it. Heck, people get sick just breathing the air on the beach when it's bad.

Congrats on the cert!

cwbroden · #3 08/08/2005, 05:02 PM

Congrats.

thereefgeek · #4 08/09/2005, 09:46 AM

Congratulations! So where will your first tropical island dive be?

moggyhill · #5 08/10/2005, 07:19 AM

well done! If you have an earache after diving you are not clearing your ears enough or properly. Try to start clearing your ears about 15 minutes before you start diving. And then every one to two feet down in the water clear them again.

FishyBiz · #6 08/10/2005, 01:49 PM

Thanks guys! Im really good at clearing my ears so i'm not sure what the problem was. I have been to the doctors three days in a row. Today there is blood comming out of my ear and they want me to see a specialist. (sp) I hope this isnt the end of diving for me.

drgabe · #7 08/12/2005, 11:13 AM

Sounds to be either a perferated ear drum or just irritation to the ear canal. Neither means the end of your diving career. You just need to see someone who knows something about diving, and has the ability/equipment to look in your ears.

predatorpassion · #8 08/15/2005, 08:11 PM

when we got certified at beaver lake, ark. (june 19 or 29 forgot) one of the divers busted her eardrum...

Rivalpc · #9 08/18/2005, 09:35 AM

When i dive fresh water lakes my ears hurt for a few days afterwards. See a specialist ASAP. It may be something simple as irritated canals or something worse like perferated ear drum.

For me it turned out to be cold sesitivty and irritation from the swimmers ear cleaning stuff. Had one ear "leak" blood due to it. In cold water I need to use docs pro plugs to keep the ear canal dry and warm, they are vented plugs designed for diving. In warm waters it isnt an issue so i dont wear the plugs.

drgabe · #10 08/19/2005, 05:14 PM

Vented plugs are ok... but dont ever use regular ear plugs when diving. Unless you want me to have to extract those plugs from your brain.

Tikkagirl · #11 08/30/2005, 12:33 PM

Umm...I don't want to sound dumb, but what is red tide?

luminary · #12 08/31/2005, 01:05 AM

Mostly dinoflagellates that cause nasty problems. Read about it here...

mmn_usn · #13 08/31/2005, 03:23 AM

Love diving. Been doing it for around 7 yrs now. Here in Guam.... diving is wonderful and now that I have an aquarium... it is what looks natural. The real advice I have is... No matter whether you are diving wrecks, diving from the beach, cold or tropical, Have fun and enjoy the scenary. There is nothing like it above the waves.

reefmaint · #14 09/01/2005, 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by moggyhill
well done! If you have an earache after diving you are not clearing your ears enough or properly. Try to start clearing your ears about 15 minutes before you start diving. And then every one to two feet down in the water clear them again.

or it could be infection from the red tide....

David P · #15 09/01/2005, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by reefmaint
or it could be infection from the red tide....

my thoughts as well. Do you use an ear drop mixture of rubbing alcohol and white vinager after each day of diving?

reefmaint · #16 09/01/2005, 05:41 PM

OMG when i saw some one quote me i was sure the words "your an idiot" would follow.

I dont use ear drops and dont know any one who does. but im guessin if diving in a bad area ou should.

i avoid diving in cannals. bays and so on
lakes should be ok if they test the water ( IL has good lakes for diving clean water last time i was there)

but avoid stagnant water. and discolored water..
i just last week blew out. or blew in my ear.
i was at 60 ish ft after a 80 ft dive. and all the sudden couldent go up or down with out pain. now i cant go diving for a while

corbyjames · #17 09/19/2005, 08:33 AM

I've been diving for 20 years and taught for 8 of those. During that time, I've seen a lot of ear issues and had a few of my own. They are nothing to mess around with as they can result in permanent hearing loss. Make sure to go to a specialist and preferably someone that has experience with divers. Often the issue is anxiety when people are new to diving. People tense up and pinch the canal, making it hard to clear and also continue to descend even when they experience pain. This is often made worse by congestion.

Regarding ear drops, it became a regular part of my regime after I got an ear infection diving off of Malibu.

So go to the doc, heal up before you dive again and welcome to one of the greatest sports on the planet.