Our bodies are constantly exposed to damaging effects but the safety mechanisms of our immune system prevent the development of diseases. The weakening of our defense system or if exposed to especially serious harming effects can lead to the formation of diseases, in our case, to the infection of the hearing canal.

The harmful effects damaging the hearing canal can be divided into two groups: every-day effects and diving-related effects.

Besides the harmful effects at our own hands from the every-day cleaning of the ear, the hearing canal is further sensitive to drafts as well as to soaps, shampoos and shower gels which can significantly change the PH-levels of the skin or cause allergic reactions.

On a diving safari divers can dive up to four times one day and adding to this some snorkelling and fooling around in the water, divers can easily spend up to 6-7 hours a day in water. In addition, the sea water can collect in the shaped curve, increasing the time water stays in the ear. This much time spent with water in the ears is not preferable. Just think about sitting in the bath tub for a long time when our hands wrinkle like a prune.

Plus the sea water is not sterile. The organic materials in it provide sufficient breeding ground for bacteria which can more easily enter the skin of the hearing canal soaked in water, causing infections.

The first symptom of infection in the hearing canal is the ear ache. As the process continues, the skin of the hearing canal swells, narrowing or often completely closing the canal. From the narrowed canal there is often a discharge caused by the infection.

When the ear aches and the diagnosis is probable infection in the hearing canal, we can do the following: If on a diving safari, leave out at least one day of diving, try to gently rinse out the canal with fresh water and use anti-inflammatory ear drops 3 times a day. Once on land, consult a physician who will carefully clean out the hearing canal, prescribe ear drops or if the canal is too narrow, place an antibitoic strip into the canal.

To sum up, we can do the following to avoid all these inconveniences and to prevent infection in the hearing canal:

- Keep the hands away from the ears. Do not use cleaning sticks, hair pinsor any other objects to clean them.

- Have your ears checked by a doctor 2 weeks before a diving trip.

- Use PH-neutral or hypoallergenic hygiene products.

- Protect the ears even from the wind.

- After a day of diving, always rinse the ears with fresh water and letthe water leave the ear completely.

Dr. Gabor Kiefer PhD.
University Assistant Professor
SOTE, Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic
Tel: +36 20 947 0701

The Hearing Canal

Every diver’s nightmare is the less or more painful ear ache starting on the second or third day of the safari which could also last for the whole week. There are many reasons for these ear aches but most common is the inflammation of the hearing canal. The hearing canal lies between the outer ear and the ear drums. Its function is to get the sound waves to the ear drums and in part, the protection of the ear drums. In an adult ear, the surface of this “S”-shaped organ is covered with a fine layer of skin.

This skin layer contains the suet glands that produce a special substance,the ear wax (cerumen in Latin). In normal cases, the ear wax thinly coats the skin of the hearing canal, acting as an anti-bacterial agent and protecting it from infections. Like with most good things, there may be a couple of problems with ear wax: not enough or too much.

If there is not enough, the hearing canal is dry, itchy and can easily crack, leaving room for the bacteria to reach the deeper layers of the skin. If there is too much, it can accumulate and cause a plug, partially or completely closing the hearing canal which may cause annoying decreased hearing.

From all these we can quickly conclude that the use of Q-tips (earcleaning sticks), preferred by most people, can be the source of many problems, so they should be used only to gently help out the ear wax that is already on the edge of the ear canal. If we use them deeper in the ear and we regularly clean out the ear wax, we cause the ear canal to dry out and the skin to break. And if there is too much ear wax, we cannot clean it all out and we simply gather it into a plug somewhere near the ear drums.

So, it is best to leave the hearing canal alone and have it cleaned by a doctor one or two weeks before the diving trip. The doctor will either use a syringe filled with lukewarm water to rinse out the hearing canal or use a gentle suction device to remove it. Of course, this will not guarantee 100% that after this procedure there is not going to be any ear infection but the chances of it happening are decreased.

Now let us see what can actually cause an infection in the hearing canal…

To be continued…

Dr. Gabor Kiefer PhD.
University Assistant Professor
SOTE, Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic
Tel: +36 20 947 0701

In our new series of articles Dr. Gabor Kiefer, an ear, nose and throat specialist answers your questions that come up most frequently during diving, on holidays and diving tours. If you have any questions regarding the topics or other issues, feel free to comment.

Our childhood experiences often influence our adult goals and aspirations. I was around 10 years old when captain Cousteau series started to run on TV. I decided then that I was also going to be a diver. But the little boys love of wanting to dive remained only a platonic desire for a long time and nearly 20 years had to pass before the childhood dream could become a reality.

Since then, during the following 10 years or so, I have had the chance to live through wonderful experiences and exciting adventures on numerous diving trips and safaris.

My professional work gradually included diving and more and more divers began contacting me and entrusting me with their various ear, nose and throat problems or asked me for their fit for diving tests.

In my series of articles I would like to share with you my experiences as a diver and as a doctor to make sure that your diving tours and travels are the least disturbed by ear, nose and throat problems.

Dr. Gabor Kiefer PhD.
University Assistant Professor
SOTE, Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic
Tel: +36 20 947 0701

To be continued!

DEMA (Diving Equipment and Marketing Association), the biggest diving exhibition, attracting the most number of visitors, has taken place once again in the US. The location of the venue changes between Las Vegas and Orlando and this year it was Orlando’s turn. The grounds of the exhibition were just as expansive and impressive as in 2007, when we had visited the show last but the effects of the economic hardships could be felt here as well. Compared to previous years, all the best known manufacturers were present but with smaller stands and less equipment.

From the diving gear manufacturers, Aqualung’s representation was the most low-key with its 5m2 stand and a small selection of BCDs and dive suits. The re-breathers have been visibly gaining serious grounds as various types were exhibited at numerous stands. More and more manufacturers are introducing colourful dive computers. They have also started the installation of various GPS-based accessories into underwater navigation systems, though no actual working samples had been exhibited at the show. Several well-known manufacturers, including some Europeans, had chosen to stay away from the show this year. such as Halcyon and DUI, among others.

The travel part of the show was very colourful. Besides the usually favoured American destinations like Florida and Los Angeles, new destinations have also appeared, among them Micronesia, the Philippines and the Pacific. The biggest area was occupied by exhibitors promoting Indonesia, almost all destinations being represented, including most of the diving liveaboards and dive centres from Lembeh and Raja Ampat. Year after year the South-East Asian destinations have been gaining grounds, becoming one of the most popular and most visited destinations for the world’s divers.

Egypt was still under-represented, with only two small stands and one liveaboard operator. It seems more time is needed for people in the US to forget about 9/11.

The expansion of underwater photography companies and manufacturers deserve a special mention. This time they had their own separate section at the show where they could introduce this year’s latest gadgets. Seminars on underwater photography and video were held daily by such well-known guests as Stephen Frink and Eric Cheng. Virtually all known manufacturers were represented except maybe for Amphibicio, the Canadian manufacturer of video casings. More and more divers are buying some kind of underwater recording device, may it be underwater camera or video. According to some researchers, these purchases are going to reach 50% among divers within the next few years.

It was interesting to see that among the exhibitors were also in big numbers companies that specialise in testing and cleaning of dive tanks. This is something new as they have not been among the exhibitors in the past.

written by: Daniel Selmeczi
translated by: Anita Riberdy

Egypt is rightly famous for its pharaohs, pyramids and last but not least, for its marine life, thanks to spectacular dive sites, great weather and warm waters. The most memorable experiences come from diving safaris onboard diving liveaboards when we travel for a week in luxury and visit untouched sites far from civilisation, the city noise and the office.

A Liveaboard holiday will ensure that divers reach some of the best wrecks and reefs in the world, including world famous dive sites such as the Brothers Island, Deadalus, Elphinstone and St. John’s, as well as historical wrecks, including Rosalie Müller, Salem Express and Thistlegorm.

The Red Sea lies between the continents of Asia and Africa. The Sinai Peninsula sits at its most northerly point and stretches over 1000 miles south to join the Indian Ocean, between Ethiopia and Yemen. The southern opening is only a narrow passage that connects the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean, making the Red Sea an almost isolated body of water with a high temperature and salinity.

The Red Sea is home to over 1,000 invertebrate species, many of which can only be found here. More than 1100 species of fish have been identified as well as 200 soft and hard corals.

Whatever choice you make, you will not be disappointed. The Egypt’s Red Sea has so much to offer that you will feel you cannot get enough!

Sudan in Africa is one of the most beautiful places in the world to go on a scuba diving vacation any time of the year. New or experienced scuba divers can choose from a variety of areas and destinations. There are untouched coral reefs including the world famous Shaab Rumi where Cousteau conducted his experiments.

There is also the wreck of Umbira, a 150m long WWII ship that sank in quite shallow waters, making her easy to dive. You will see tube sponges and soft corals hanging from the walls and arches of the reefs while you’re scuba diving in Sudan.

The number of boats in Sudan offering diving safaris is about 8-9 (in Egypt there are hundreds), so during the diving tours divers do not meet other boats and do not have to fight for space underwater with other divers. The dives are only for the group and the sites can be enjoyed without the crowds.

Sudan is mostly famous for its sharks, schools of barracuda, untouched coral reefs and mainly in the south, for the large schools of hammerheads.

On the last day of the tour when the boat sails back to the harbour, the guests can visit the island of Suakin, which was once the main port city in the Red Sea. Today it is a white virtual ghost town, famous for its houses built from coral “bricks”.