When I free dive I am supposed to wear ear plugs of some kind due to prevent swimmer’s ear because of bone growth in my ear from the cold water in San Diego. Although I rarely exceed 30 ft. while free diving, the deeper I go the more often I clear my ears. The ear plugs that are included with the Audioflood iPods are the same kind that I received from my ear doctor. All though they were originally prescribed to use for surfing, I was told some shallow diving and snorkeling was okay as well. Because I’ve used them surfing and diving for many years, I am comfortable using them where inexperienced divers should not.

We agree, if you are diving deep enough that you need to clear your ears, using this product is not recommended. Thanks again for bringing up this important topic!
-Peter, Where The Coconuts Grow

I’m sure this is a great product but I must warn against wearing earplugs when diving or free-diving. As a PADI Certified Master Diver, I am aware of the need to keep the ears clear for equalization. There are two methods to equalize the ears when underwater. On method is to blow ones nose while pinching the nose closed. The other method is to wiggle ones jaw until the ears “pop”. Most divers use the pnch method. Wearing earplugs can impede the process of equalization. This can lead to barotrauma and even permanent hearing loss. Even free-diving in as little as 15 feet of water can put massive pressure on the ear drums. The deeper a person goes, the more the pressure.

The weight of the water above a diver exerts pressure on his body. The deeper a diver descends, the more water he has above him, and the more pressure it exerts on his body. The pressure a diver experiences at a certain depth is the sum of all the pressures above him, both from the water and the air.

• every 33 feet of salt water = 1 ATA of pressure

• pressure a diver experiences = water pressure + 1 ATA (from the atmosphere)

Total Pressure at Standard Depths (sea water)
Depth / Atmospheric Pressure + Water Pressure / Total Pressure
0 feet / 1 ATA + 0 ATA / 1 ATA
15 feet / 1 ATA + 0.45 ATA / 1 .45 ATA
33 feet / 1 ATA + 1 ATA / 2 ATA
40 feet / 1 ATA + 1.21 ATA / 2.2 ATA
66 feet / 1 ATA + 2 ATA / 3 ATA
99 feet / 1 ATA + 3 ATA / 4 ATA

The changes in pressure is why most good divers will perform a safety stop during the assent at the 15′ level to re-acclimate their bodies.

Sorry, did not mean to poop on your review but people need to be aware of the dangers. It is just not a good idea to enter the water with earbuds or earplugs.

Mark

Mark and Cindy
s/v Cream Puff