Vented ear plugs?

[Pinniped72]

Hello all, a quick call to the collective wisdom and wealth of experience, does anyone use vented ear plugs and if so how did you find them? I had last week off and was in the water almost every day, after my last session which was surface swimming with fins, my hearing went and its just coming back now so I think its time for plugs, as I tend to be in the sea every weekend throughout the year so lots of cold water! This time I really thought I was gonna get swimmers ear but seemed to have dodged the bullet, no infection.......... thank God! Also I don't want to get surfers ear and all the hassle that brings! Many thanks for your time

 

[seaflower]

I used them for years and highly recommend them.
It's important you find the fitting size for your ears tho.
I measured mine with the clearest instructions I could find and luckily that was the right size!

They protect your head and ears not only from cold water, but also germs and debris.
Together with a hood, your head will feel much warmer than without plugs.
They also make equalizing a lot easier.

 

[William Freeman]

Yes, I've used the vented Doc's Pro plugs for a few years now. I know a number of free divers who use them.
Read this:
www.proplugs.com/media/SIMSICongress2006.doc
I find them to ease equalizing and keep water out of your ears, but you can still hear quite well with them, due to the vent.
I've used them down to 30m without any problems. I would check them out.

 

[Pinniped72]

Fantastic, many thanks for the replies, for me personally it is now a no brainer, thanks again

 

[159Swat]

I also use them for about 3 year now, and the have helped me a lot, haven't got so muck ear problems. And same people can think the are like same other earplugs that don't let you dive deeper, but in my experience until -35 no problem. First days of use you can find a bit unconfortable but after you get use to them and i also guess the get softer.