Bubble head

How do you keep the water outta your ears ? Seriously driving me nuts !!!!

If water stays in your ears, you have most probably "surfer's ear" (exostosis). Bone growth that slowly close your ear canal, trapping water at first, then making you deaf.

See a doctor to check the seriousness of the condition, and you will most probably have to use ear plugs, such as the "surfears".
I now use custom ear plugs during each session. They feel cumbersome at first, but you get used to it. Like an helmet when biking, or the safety belt when driving.

I was deaf 6 months a year for decades cuz of surfing. Doctors all said I needed the "operation"



Didn't ever have it fixed....I just Bought a Kook hat with mesh ear flaps and it NEVER happened again.

Never a problem since.

I credit the wind block provoded by the mesh... water gets in but never bothers me. Wind is the culprit IMO.

www.tracksmag.com.au/news/surfers-ear-setbacks-424860

I agree with Colas in believing that (cold) wind is probably the main cause of surfer's ear, but cold water will contribute also. It may be totally wrong, but I have heard folklore that suggests that here in Victoria, those who surf mainly down the west coast have the opposite ear affected first to those who surf the east coast (I have had the operation on my left ear) because of the different wind angle hitting you.
If water is staying in your ears after a surf you can use drops (such as Aqua Ear) which will break the surface tension on the saltwater in your ear, allowing it to clear.
It's when the drops stop working that you need to see a doctor.

Have had the same issues LastSupper.
Got some SurfEars 2.0 earplugs. These things work and have the added benefit of allowing you to still hear!
Compared to other versions I've tried in the past, these ones don't come out in the surf... and even if they did, they have a leash.
Well worth the $60 or so.... and definitely better than spending half the day walking around trying to expel water from your deaf ears..!!

Ok thanks Colas.....but this doesn't look like a loop in the picture . Seems to just go behind the neck

That lanyard on the surfears pic doesn't show how it fits in real life.

The lanyard is much longer and has an adjustable toggle on it, you place a loop around your neck, adjust the toggle so it's a close fit (around your neck) then either end of the plugs go up to your ears and plug in.
So, if either plug comes out you don't loose them because the main loop is around your neck.. Just make sure you pull enough lanyard out of your wetsuit neck so you can twist your head (otherwise you'll pull the earplugs out)
HTHs.

Thanks CSE and SB....always learning

Surfers ears are a combination of sand, ear wax and cold water, wind will chill the water through your ears. As your ears get repeatedly exposed to the cold sea water the bones shrink inwards, closing the hole for the ear to resonate sound. Sand needs to be included as this forms the blockage with the ear wax (cholestoral).
It is unlikely that you would get surfers ear paddling in flat water as your ears flush the water out when standing up.
All earplugs will stop the sand particles in the water and therefore stop the problem too.
If the mesh over the ears is fine enough to stop the sand particles then it should work too.
Remember that sand particles are present in most ocean pools as well as at the beach.
The operation is extensive. If at all concerned see a doctor for a flush of the ears and use ear clear peroxide, which dissolves the wax, and leave it in for a prolonged period.
Your ears when cleared will revert back to a more normal position when using the ear plugs or ear clear.
A check is turn on the TV, if you can hear the TV on 10-12 volume setting then your ears are okay. IF your 22-30 volume youve got a blockage. 35-45 you need a good syringing.