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Posted : March 29, 2006
Help! My boyfriend & i are going to sharm el sheikh on holiday in August. He has his heart set on diving but has a perforated ear drum that he's had since birth, I have read about proear2000 - would this be suitable to allow him to dive?? I also read that it wasn't allowed for training which he would need to do? Is this true & why is this? Any help or ideas of how he might be able to dive would be greatly appreciated thank you!!!

Posted : March 29, 2006
Its not good for learning to dive as you have to "mask on, mask off" in training,
so water will get into the ear, resulting in infection,
he cannot dive sadly until its fixed by a graft....
Yours
dr j

Posted : August 29, 2006 by - flipper

Hi Doc
This post and reply interests me as I too have had a perforated ear since a medic shoved a needle through my eardrum 49 years ago. I was 1 at the time.

Whenever I dive in at a swimming pool, I get to listen to water moving around in my ear for a few days.

I would like to take up scuba. So how much will the graft you mention cost ? A quesstimate is fine.Thanks.

I'm hoping to be able to get the operation done in Thailand, where it will be much cheaper

Posted : August 29, 2006 by -

A skin graft for the eardrum in Thailand...
reckon 400-500 pounds
dr j

Posted : August 30, 2006 by - flipper

Thanks Doc. How much would it cost in the UK ?

Disclaimer:
The views expressed by Dr Firth & Dr Jules are their own and the publishers accept no liability for the advice and views expressed by Dr Firth , Dr Jules, or other users, which are provided as a general service to divers. Users are warned that secondary posts are the views of other users and may not be medically correct.