Ear Problems in Diving – Part 3: The Inner Ear

Diagram of the ear
Figure 1. Diagram of the ear, showing the anatomy of the inner ear. (Image source: Wikimedia / CC BY 2.5. Labels: Dr Michael Rothschild)

Many people suffer from ear problems during and after diving. Technical rebreather diver and underwater photographer Dr Michael Rothschild is an ear, nose and throat specialist in New York City. In this series, he walks us through some of the common causes of dive-related ear problems, and how to treat and prevent them.

Showing Scale: Contributors' Picks

Three large, female tiger sharks approaching the feeder, Tiger Beach, Bahamas
Photo by Matthew Meier: Three large, female tiger sharks approaching the feeder, Tiger Beach, Bahamas. Gear: Nikon D810 camera, Sigma 15mm fisheye lens, Subal housing, two Sea&Sea YS-250 strobes. Exposure: ISO 200, f/8, 1/100s

In underwater photography, "scale" can mean a couple of things: how big or small a thing is or the myriad of tiny plates on the skin of a fish. We asked our contributors what their favorite underwater photos were that showed scale. And playing on the pun, they came back with a creative mix of macro, wide-angle and close-up abstract images.

Mark Derrick of Dive Gear Express

Mark Derrick of Dive Gear Express
Mark Derrick of Dive Gear Express

“Treat customers the way you want to be treated” is a tenet of client relations for which many businesses strive but, sadly, not all achieve. This concept of customer service was the primary building block with which Mark Derrick developed Dive Gear Express (DGX) since its infancy in 2002. In light of the five-star independent Google reviews from 97 percent of DGX patrons, I would say they are on the right track.