I avoid this problem by using a dry hood.  Where this is not feasable
(wetsuit or warm water), reference the following post which Dr. R.W.
Bill Hamilton posted to freeattic some time ago:

-----------------------------

Sorry I have not gotten around to doing this because I wanted to check.
 

First, the drops to put the ears daily, 5 min by the clock, is Otic
Domeboro (Miles).  This, for some reason, is a prescription drug.  It
has
2% acetic acid, aluminum acetate, and boric acid.  There is only one
strength.

There is an over-the-counter solution, Star-Otic, by Stellar Pharamacal
Corp, Pompano Beach.  It has the right ingredients and should do the
job;
it is in propylene glycol rather than a water base, which should be
good
and keep the ear drier.  Their instructions are 3-5 drops in each ear
before and after swimming.

My earlier recommendation was for a mixture of vinegar and alcohol, and
that is still good.  Dr. Duke Scott suggests adding an equal portion of
boric acid solution (I presume saturated--I think that is one reason
why
boric acid is used elsewhere, it gives the right tonicity).  This
should be
even better.  

Same rules, fill each ear one at a time, wait 5 min by the clock, then
drain.  Don't touch the inside of the ear canal with anything,
including
your elbow.  (Except to take a culture, if needed.)

If this fails (if it fails it will most likely be because it was not
done
right) then a topical antibiotic is indicated.  A good one is
Cortisporin
Otic Solution (Burroughs).  Another that has been used in saturation
divers
offshore is a mixture of Polymyxin and Gentamycin.  (Polymixin B
sulfate
0.5% and Gentamycin sulfate 0.3%; I don't find an otic solution of
Gentamycin in my 1994 PDR.)   This worked a few years ago, there may be
something better now, but these are big guns.  It is not advisable to
use
an inadequate antibiotic, but some procedures call for starting with
one
not so strong.   These are topical and are applied as drops in the ear
canal.

I strongly advise anyone needing these antibiotics to seek the care of
an
ENT physician or dermatologist.

Best thing is prevention, and that stuff works.

rwh

-------------------------

Hope this helps.

-Sean


On Tue, 23 Feb 1999 02:41:02 +0100, Hans Petter Roverud wrote:

>I've had a lot of problems with recurrent otitis externa. I've asked around 
>and found it's actually epidemic in technical diving. No surprise really, 
>since we spend a lot of time under water -- the water leaves our ear canals 
>washed-out and vulnerable to infections However, nobody talks about this 
>unless you ask directly. A cave divers from Sweden, R. Lundgren, told me 
>that freshwater is actually worse than seawater in this respect. Needless 
>to say, polluted water of either category tops the list of "interesting" 
>micro-organisms. I'd like to know what those who log hours underwater 
>around the world do to avoid/limit external ear infections. Keeping the 
>external ear canals dry is a very good idea, yet hard to accomplish without 
>wearing a hard hat.
>
>My advice would go along the lines of :
>1) Keep ears dry (medical advice we may not be able to comply with)
>2) Dry out your ears as soon as possible after surfacing
>3) Use ear drops prophylacticly after a dive (diluted vinegar may work)
>4) Whatever you do, no Q tips! Picking your itching ears breaks the 
>external ear lining and leaves the ears more vulnerable to infection
>
>WKPP or others spending long hours underwater -- how do you fight external 
>ear infections?
>
>regards,
>
>Hans


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