Scuba diving is a popular activity among many people, but it can also cause harm to the body. One of the most common concerns related to scuba diving is whether or not it can hurt your ears. The answer to this question is yes, scuba diving can hurt your ears if you do not take the proper precautions.
The most common type of ear injury that can occur during scuba diving is equalizing pressure. This occurs when the pressure inside and outside of the ear canal is different.
To keep this from happening, divers must use proper techniques for equalizing pressure in their ears. This includes pinching their nose and blowing gently while swallowing or using an auto-inflating device known as a mask squeeze.
Another risk associated with scuba diving is barotrauma, which is an injury caused by changes in pressure during descent and ascent from a dive. Barotrauma can cause damage to the eardrum, middle ear, or inner ear, resulting in hearing loss or pain. To prevent barotrauma, divers should always ascend and descend slowly and make sure they are adequately hydrated before a dive.
Finally, divers should be aware that water can enter their ear canal during dives and cause an infection known as swimmer’s ear or otitis externa. This infection can lead to pain, itching, redness of the outer part of the ear canal, and a discharge from the ear. To prevent swimmer’s ear infections, divers should wear protective gear such as custom-fitted earplugs or swim caps when going underwater.
In conclusion, scuba diving can be dangerous if not done properly and with caution, but it does not have to be so if you take precautions like equalizing pressure properly; ascending and descending slowly; and protecting your ears with swimming caps or custom-fitted plugs when you dive into deep waters. With these measures taken into consideration, you will be safe from any potential harm that could come from going on a scuba dive!
Does Scuba Diving Hurt Your Ears? The answer is yes – but it doesn’t have to!
