sign in sign up
<<
Home , Ear clearing

February - 2016

Location: 5960 Highway 61N, suite 1 White Bear Lake, MN 55110 Phone: 651-653-1174

www.MWSchoolofDiving.com For the 3rd Year straight we will not increase our prices; we will continue to offer quality training at reasonable prices.

Adaptive Diving Looking for something to do on Saturday, March 12th, attend the Upper Midwest Scuba and Adventure Show at the Ramada Inn Bloomington, near the Mall of America.

Mark will be one of the Main Speakers: Topic of traveling outside the U.S. safely along with offering a Full Face Mask Demonstration in the pool ($20 donation); pro- ceeds from the Full Face Mask will be donated to the Our participation in the Adaptive Diver Program with Cour- age Kenny Rehabilitation Center is in full swing; Monday, Adaptive Diver Program at the Courage Kenny Rehabili- February 8th will be our 1st “Try Scuba” with 4 participants. tation Institute in Golden Valley. We will be increasing this program significantly with the certi- fication of 7 additional instructors and adaptive dives bud- dies in April. Any question or interested in helping give the shop a call.

Have you ever thought of the possibility of being a Scuba Dive Master or Instructor; within Minnesota, U.S. or interna- : March 5-6th Classroom on March 5th, Diving on tionally? How great would it be to share your passion for March 6th. Don’t let winter stop you from diving. Call shop for diving with others? All while getting PAID to do what you find exciting to do in either a part-time or full-time basis. more information.

We cordially invite you to join us for a very special GO PROFESSIONAL Night!

Everyday Scuba Pros are living the dream thru their local dive shops and even getting sand between their toes in ex- otic destinations. Can you picture yourself as a Dive Profes- sional? Let us show you how to make that dream a reali- Local MidWest Trips for 2016 ty. Interested but not sure if now is the right time for you; no problem come to the presentation find out the requirements Shipwreck Diving: so that when the time is right you have at least started the research on the requirements. Straits of Mackinac th June 4th and 5th On Saturday the 30 of April at 4:30 pm we will be host- ing a informational presentation. This is a great oppor- Or tunity to hear from top dive industry professionals on what it takes to become a scuba professional. September 19th and 20th Whether you just completed your PADI Open Water Class Limit is 6 divers each weekend—reservations will or Class with another Agency… or you’re an Experienced be taken on a first call basis. Diver – We welcome all to attend!

Our Scuba GO PRO Night will be a fun filled evening that will include:

 Short Presentation on Becoming a Scuba Professional  Question and Answer  MidWest School of Diving Instructors  Appetizers and Refreshments SWAP Meet Raffle of some nice Scuba Products MidWest School of Diving will once again host a Scuba Swap Meet. This is an opportunity to socialize with others divers in the area and either purchase or sell excess gear. The date for the swap meet will be Saturday, May 7th at MidWest School of Diving. There will be refreshments provided.

Vented Plugs and

Manufacturers of vented ear plugs (e.g., Doc's Proplugs) assert that these devices ease equalization and keep water out of the . The latter feature is said to reduce the frequency of otitis externa — more com- monly referred to as swimmer’s ear, which is an infection of the external ear canal — and exostosis, or surfer’s ear, which is an abnormal bone growth within the ear canal. The claim of easing equalization is difficult to support as there is no reasonable mechanism of which I am aware to explain howow this might occur. Doc's Proplugs' web site states, "Due to , the vented plug also reduces abrupt changes from reaching the sensitive which contributes to easier equalization,” a line of reasoning that I am unable to follow. To the extent that a vented ear plug lessened the flow of water into the external auditory canal, the expecta- tion is that outer ear infections would be less likely. Decreased water flow also would be expected to re- duce -related abnormalities, such as caloric and surfer's ear. Although anecdotes abound, only the most minimal acceptable medical research has been conducted on these plugs to date, and all that has been demonstrated is reduced bony growth in the external ear canal caused by exposure to cold, wet and windy conditions during various watersports. Provided that the vent in the plug remains unobstructed, these devices appear to pose little danger to the ear. However, if a vent should become clogged, especially upon descent, equalization could become im- peded and the eardrum damaged. As for using such plugs to protect a ruptured eardrum, remember that these devices still do admit a small amount of water. Plus, runs the risk of losing the plug altogether, thus allowing water to freely enter the middle ear space and cause pain, disorienting vertigo, and possible middle-ear infection. The bottom line is if you're experiencing external ear infections or worried about surfer's ear, properly used vented plugs may be worth the small investment. However, divers with a history of middle-ear congestion or infection are unlikely to benefit from these plugs, and they should refrain from diving until seen by an ear, nose and throat specialist. For those with continuing difficulty in equalizing, experiment with various clearing techniques before trying vented ear plugs. Having trouble equalizing your ears? Learn some great tips and techniques for easy equalizing in our Healthy Diver: Ear Clearing 101 article.

DocVikingo has been scuba certified for more than 35 years and has dived all over the world. He is a prac- tising doctor in the Baltimore/Washington, D.C., area and has held faculty positions at several major hos- pitals, including Johns Hopkins. With an interest in , he serves as administrator at Scuba Clinic Online.

Stay tuned for more information on our 2016 Trip to the We now carry the Philippine's in December. SUNNTO brand of Dive Computers, stop in and see some models

Bonaire

Plaza Resort – July 23rd – 30th 2016 7 nights at Hotel Cozumel all-inclusive resort 7 nights hotel Tuesday May 31 – Tuesday June 7, 2016 All meals & unlimited bar 7 nights Hotel Cozumel 6 days unlimited shore diving (incl. tanks, wts, ) All meals and unlimited bar included! Tax & airport transfers 5 days 2-tank morning boat diving’s Welcome tank for shore diving Standard laguna rooms $1110/diver, double occupancy These prices DO NOT include airfare. $1614 / Single Diver rate Room • $919/diver double occupancy $1005/non-Diver double occupancy • $1129/diver single occupancy • $544/non-diver double occupancy $ 240 - 6 days 2-tank boat diving • $754/non-diver single occupancy Trucks for shore diving aren’t included, but we can add • Deduct $35 for triple occupancy trucks with basic insurance for $340/week, or $85/ • Unlimited shore diving for $8 per tank person split 4 ways. • Afternoon boat dives for $16 each Bonaire Marine Park fee ($25pp) and departure tax • Available options: night dives, unlimited shore diving; ($35pp) are not included. please inquire Deposit of $100 secures a room; deposit is due by May • Not included: Cozumel’s $2.25 per dive day Marine 1st park fee AND transfers between the airport and hotel Your deposit is fully refundable until May 23rd, at which which is about $9/person time full payment is due. • For the 5th day of diving, you may choose instead to dive a ; additional fee will apply • Deposit of $100 secures a room is due March 15th Airfare is not included. • Deposit is fully refundable until April 1, 2016, at which time full payment is due Call Mark at 651-653-1174 for more information! Call Mark at 651-653-1174 for more information!