pro ear diving mask

[Robin Youngs]

Does anyone have experience of using the IST pro ear diving mask ? Cups over the ear with a tube to the mask supposed to aid equalisation. Can think of theoretical problems with it but can't find any independent evidence of effectiveness. Can anybody help ? Thanks

[Nigel Hewitt]

Does anyone have experience of using the IST pro ear diving mask ? Cups over the ear with a tube to the mask supposed to aid equalisation. Can think of theoretical problems with it but can't find any independent evidence of effectiveness. Can anybody help ?

I'm not sure if it's the model you mention but at least one like it...

It's only second hand but a guy I know reckons it has transformed his diving. He was a martyr to repeat ear infections and he was getting flack from the doctor to cut down/stop and now he doesn't get any. He had to hack great holes in his hood though...

You probably have to have a serious problem to make it worth the fuss because it seems to be quite a rigmarole to get it sealed every time.

nigelH

[Sophie Rennie]

It is excellent. Seen it used in the Maldives where ear problems seem prevalent and it worked a treat both times.
You can equalize easily after a bit of practice!

[Vic]

> You can equalize easily after a bit of practice!

Can anyone explain to me how these cups over the ears make any difference whatsoever to equalisation?

I've heard the claim innumerable times, but I'm at a complete loss as to how it could pssibly be justified.

Ta!

Vic.

[Lindsey Doyle]

> You can equalize easily after a bit of practice!

Can anyone explain to me how these cups over the ears make any difference whatsoever to equalisation?

I've heard the claim innumerable times, but I'm at a complete loss as to how it could pssibly be justified.

I've only seen the mask being used twice..by a woman I was buddied with on a boat recently in Thailand.. AFAIK, they're NOT designed to aid equalisation but to keep the ears DRY (thus clean, ie no dirty water in them, good for people prone to infections), obviously you can't do this by diving with ear plugs cos couldn't equalise, so the mask overcomes this by having a tube connecting earcovers with main airspace in mask, as you compensate for mask squeeze on descent, ambient pressure is achieved in the entire mask airspace (incl. ears) & you can clear ears.
HTH.

[Vic]

> AFAIK, they're NOT designed to aid equalisation but to keep
> the ears DRY

I get the dry bit, but twice in this thread and many, many times elsewhere, I've seen this mask touted as an aid to equalisation; I really can't see how this could be...

Vic.

[Lindsey Doyle]

I get the dry bit, but twice in this thread and many, many times elsewhere, I've seen this mask touted as an aid to equalisation; I really can't see how this could be...

I get what you mean, Vic, but IMO people use the term "aids" when they mean "this ENABLES you to still equalise DESPITE having the ears covered/dry."
There's no other product that allows dryness AND clearing?
BTW, I just did a search & found some info (the manufacturers DO (!)claim "simplified" equalisation, only explanation offered is reduced cold-water stimulation of ear drum").
<a href="http://www.scubatoys.com/store/masks/proear.asp" >http://www.scubatoys.com/store/masks/proear.asp</a>

[John Bantin]

From the experiences of two people I know who regularly dive and regularly get ear infections, this product undoubtedly works. Maybe, those on the verge of getting ear infections have trouble equalising as an early symptom.

[Geoff Oldfield]

We have a member in our club, a sports diver, who had an operation on her ear last year and was very nervous about going diving again, tried this type of mask in the pool and promptly booked to go the the Bahamas with us. On surfacing from her first dive she was extatic with the mask and how much it had overcome her fears. She's now fully back into diving, with a vengance and swears by the mask.

Regards

Geoff Oldfield
DO Merseyside Branch

[Tony Dwyer]

Does anyone have experience of using the IST pro ear diving mask ? Cups over the ear with a tube to the mask supposed to aid equalisation. Can think of theoretical problems with it but can't find any independent evidence of effectiveness. Can anybody help ? Thanks

I've got one!

Last year I had serious trouble with my right ear. A raging infection and eventual damage to the ear drum. It took over six months to stop the infection. I was beginning to think I was funding the local chemists.
My ear drum is now healed and I've been diving this year with the Pro-Ear mask. So far no problems. In the main it has kept my ear dry. I've had to cut my hair back a little to accomodate the ear cups.
The mask must be put on carefully, if it's not exactly right, it will leak. My buddy check now includes a full examination of the mask seating.
Equalisation is exactly as before, except that the ear stays dry. The pressure inside the ear cups is equalised with the mask and thus (hopefully) with the pressure around you. It is not easier or harder than with a regular mask.

I've also got a hood from Oceanic which is two layers of thin neoprene. You cut the inner layer to clear the earcups and cover them with the outer one.

It's a bit of a bugger when instructing though. Mask clearing demos are a no no. Take the mask off and the ears get wet again. It seems to be impossible to blow the water clear of the ear cups.

[Malcolm Howting]

Does anyone have experience of using the IST pro ear diving mask ? Cups over the ear with a tube to the mask supposed to aid equalisation. Can think of theoretical problems with it but can't find any independent evidence of effectiveness. Can anybody help ? Thanks

I am a sufferer of mild Eustachian Tube Dysfuntion in one of my ears which makes equalising down to 10m difficult. As a result I always take Sudafed when I dive. Bit of a shame really as I would like to dive a lot more but this prevents me from doing so other than recreationally. I have tried the ENT specialists but unfortunatly they say there is nothing that can be done.

I was looking at the pro-ear as a possible solution but if I am correct in reading the thread it would appear that the mask will not help as it does not make equalisation any easier. Does anyone have a similar ear problem (Eustachian Tube Dysfunction) that has tried the mask and found it successful in easing equalisation? Or perhaps you can offer alternative solutions other than drugs?