Sore ears are one of the most common problems divers face. You go down toward the reef at Racha or Phi Phi, feel a sharp pain in your ear, and the fun stops. That pain has a name: ear barotrauma, or ear squeeze. It is not the germ kind of ear trouble. It comes from pressure, and it is very common.
At our 24-hour walk-in clinic in Patong, we see dive ear injuries all season. Most are mild and heal well. A few are worse and need proper care so your hearing stays safe. This guide explains why diving hurts your ears, the main types of barotrauma, and how a licensed doctor treats it.
Why Diving Puts Pressure on Your Ears
Air and water press on your body all the time, but water presses much harder. As you go down on a dive, the pressure around you climbs fast. In the first few metres, it rises quickly. That pressure pushes on your eardrum from the outside. To feel comfortable, you must add pressure from the inside to match it. That is what equalising does. When you pinch your nose and gently blow, or swallow, air travels up a small tube and balances your eardrum.
The small tube is the Eustachian tube, and it links your ear to the back of your nose. When it is clear, equalising is easy. When it is blocked by a cold, allergy, or congestion, air cannot get through. Then the outside pressure wins, and your eardrum gets pushed and stretched. That is the squeeze. Divers who go down too fast, or who dive with a stuffy nose, are the ones who feel it most.
The Main Types of Ear Barotrauma
Ear squeeze comes in a few forms. The most common is middle ear barotrauma. Here the eardrum gets pushed inward, turns red, and can fill with fluid or a little blood behind it. It feels blocked and sore, with muffled hearing. A worse case can tear the eardrum, which may cause sharp pain, then sudden relief, and sometimes a spinning feeling. Outer ear barotrauma is rarer and happens when earwax or a tight hood traps air in the canal.
There is also inner ear barotrauma, which is less common but more serious. It can bring strong dizziness, ringing in the ear, and real hearing loss. This type needs a doctor quickly, because waiting can risk lasting damage. The hard part is that inner ear barotrauma can look like decompression sickness at first. Both can cause dizziness after a dive. A doctor helps tell them apart, since the treatment is very different.
How We Treat Dive Ear Injuries in Patong
When you come in with a sore ear after a dive, the visit is calm and quick. The licensed doctor asks about your dive and looks inside your ear with a small light. That shows us if the eardrum is red, pushed in, torn, or fine. We check your hearing and balance too. Most middle ear squeezes heal on their own with rest and time. We can give medicine to ease pain and swelling, and treat any cold that stopped you equalising.
The most important thing we do is tell you when it is safe to dive again. Going back too soon, with a red or torn eardrum, can cause lasting harm. We also make sure your dizziness is a simple squeeze, not decompression sickness or an inner ear injury. If it is serious, we arrange the right care fast. We speak English, quote the price before treatment, and can bill many travel insurers directly.
Types of Ear Barotrauma: How They Feel and What Helps
| Type | How it feels | What helps |
|---|---|---|
| Middle ear squeeze (most common) | Blocked, sore ear with muffled hearing during or after a dive | Rest, pain relief, and treating any cold; stop diving until healed |
| Torn eardrum | Sharp pain, then sudden relief, sometimes with a spinning feeling | See a doctor; keep the ear dry and do not dive until it heals |
| Outer ear squeeze | Pain in the ear canal, often from earwax or a tight hood | A clinic can clear wax and check the canal |
| Inner ear barotrauma | Strong dizziness, ringing, and hearing loss | Get urgent care; this can be serious and needs a doctor |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ear barotrauma from diving?
Ear barotrauma from diving is an ear injury caused by pressure, not germs. As you go down, water presses on the eardrum. If you cannot equalise, the pressure stretches or damages the ear. It brings a blocked, sore feeling and muffled hearing. Most cases are mild, but a bad squeeze needs a doctor to check your eardrum.
Why can’t I equalise my ears when I dive?
Usually because the small Eustachian tube from your ear to your nose is blocked. A cold, allergy, or stuffy nose closes it, so air cannot balance your eardrum. Going down too fast makes it worse. Descend slowly, equalise early and often, and never dive with a cold. If it still will not clear, stop and go back up.
How long before I can dive again after ear barotrauma?
It depends on how bad the squeeze was. A mild case may settle in a few days. A torn eardrum can take weeks to heal and must be fully closed before you dive. Going back too soon risks lasting damage. A licensed doctor can look inside your ear and tell you when it is truly safe.
Is dizziness after a dive always an ear problem?
Not always, and that is why it matters. Dizziness can come from inner ear barotrauma, but it can also be a sign of decompression sickness. The two need very different treatment. If you feel dizzy after a dive, especially with joint pain, tingling, or trouble breathing, treat it as urgent and get checked right away.
Can you treat dive ear pain at your Patong clinic?
Yes. We see dive ear injuries often. The doctor looks inside your ear, checks your hearing and balance, and finds out if it is a simple squeeze or something worse. We ease the pain, treat any cold, and tell you when it is safe to dive again. We are open 24 hours a day in Patong.
Walk in on Prachanukroh Road near Bangla, or message us and we reply in minutes. Doctor hotel visits available across Patong and Phuket.
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