Ear Infections from The Wave in Bristol

[JD01]

I live by the beach so I surf in the sea a lot but I've just got a savage ear infection and I think it was after surfing The Wave in Bristol recently.

If you've been there lately you've probably noticed the water is bright green with algae - while this didn't make me feel ill or anything, and to be honest it looks pretty cool, I have been struggling with an ear infection. It could just as easily be from the sea but I was just wondering if any of the guys who surf the Wave a lot but don't surf in the sea much have at similar issues.

I go to the Wave fairly regularly as I often have meetings in Bristol but I'll avoid it until they sort the water out if other people have noted the same thing.

No - I don't wear ear plugs, even though I know I should. And Yes, I do have surfer's ear in both ears. I'm looking at getting some custom ear-plugs made up as all the off the shelf ones I've bought have been xxxxx.

[oldmansurfer]

When I was a kid I took swimming lessons in a pool and got ear infections all the time. They had me wear nose plugs to prevent it

[jaffa1949]

Blue green algae can cause at a low level skin irritation, at higher levels this leads to skin infections.
having surfer‘s ear means the ear canals are narrowed, stopping free draining of the ears, serious disinfection of the pool nears to happen, but then chlorine disinfection of pools causes irritation too.
There are proprietary ear drying solutions from Pharmacies and some surf shops. The pharmacies might also advise on a solution of Hydrogen peroxide of safe strength,
If you have had to got to the antibiotic level then working with your doctor is important,SERIOUS risk with algae promoted infections,
let the wave know!

Just remember too in a pool there is more of the silent P in surphing!