Wavy Ocean Earplugs
Protecting your ears in cold water
Whilst Charlie prefers surf trips to warm destinations like Portugal, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria or Andalucia, she also surfs occasionally in the UK. As anywhere in Europe, the surf conditions are best in the winter months when water and temperatures can get chilly. Between December and March, a wetsuit with hood is necessary to keep your head warm. In October, November and April, a hood is not mandatory, but you still want to protect your ears against wind and water.
Why do you need to protect your ears?
Repeated exposure to cold water and wind can cause a condition that is commonly known as surfer’s ear. The medical term is external auditory canal exostosis, and it develops slowly over time. Sometimes, it takes up to 15 years until a surfer notices the symptoms. These include recurring ear infections, trapped water in your ear or hearing loss.
The symptoms are caused by bony growth as a response to cold temperatures. It slowly closes the ear canal. If this happens, surfers should get medical advice. In mild cases, ear drops, and antibiotics trigger the healing process. If the condition becomes severe, surgery might be needed. To prevent surfer’s ear, the general recommendation is to wear ear plugs in sea water below 19°C, i.e. in the UK you should wear them all year round.
How is it to wear ear plugs whilst surfing?
If you’re choosing the right ear plugs, you barely even notice them when you’re in the water. Most surfers are concerned that it will impact their hearing or that they will fall out whilst surfing. Charlie has chosen ear plugs by Wavy Ocean. They have been developed by a Dutch audio engineer with sound quality in mind. Charlie tested them and can confirm Wavy Ocean ear plugs barely affect your hearing. She could have a normal chat with her friends whilst paddling into the waves.
Another concern Charlie often hears is whether they fall out in the water. With Wavy Ocean, this is not the case. If you put them correctly in the outer ear, they won’t fall out. Left and right are clearly marked and the part that enters the ear canal is made of flexible silicone and comes in three sizes. You should test which one fits your ear before you go into the water. Wavy Earplugs are available online or in surf shops for £37.95.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is surfers ear?
Surfers ear is a bony growth inside the ear that develops after repeated exposure to cold water and wind.
How to protect against surfer’s ear?
To prevent bony growth inside the ear, surfers should wear earplugs in water temperatures below 19°C.
Can you still hear clearly when surfing with ear plugs?
If you are choosing the right ear plugs for surfing, you can still hear perfectly and chat with your friends. Charlie recommends the brand Wavy Ocean.
Do the earplugs fall out in the water?
If the earplugs sit correctly inside the ear, they won’t fall out. Charlie recommends the brand Wavy Ocean.
images: Charlieonthemove.com and Ryan Howard
