helmets and divemasters

Question
Hi Mike,
Thank you for all the info you sent me.Having considered your answer,I was wondering if i could possibly work as a Dive Master at a dive resort,guiding other certified divers,whilst using a helmet, as i wouldn't have to demonstrate any underwater skills to the certified divers.As you said,an operation would be expensive and i just am not really in a financial situation to do this but could afford a helmet and dry suit.My eardum has healed and i can equalize by wiggling my jaw,say if i'm driving down a high hill but can feel that its not one hundred percent.I think i could keep my eardrum intact as long as i can keep water out of it and equalize early and descend slowly.would this be possible ,considering i would only be guiding already certified divers and not demonstrating any skills in open water. Thank you
Robert Paterson

Answer
Hi again, Robert

I'm glad to hear that your eardrum has healed again.  Now let's try to keep from re-injuring it again!!

As I mentioned in my last letter, the helmet won't solve your pressure problems...you'll still have to equalize the pressure difference in your ears.  The difference is that you won't have water next to your eardrum.  I'm talking about a fully enclosed commercial dive helmet.  These helmets are extremely expensive to purchase and maintain.  They are also somewhat bulky and are better suited to commercial work where the diver is not swimming or wearing fins but is generally walking on the bottom or a structure.  They are normally hooked up to a surface supplied air hose and a communications cable.  They are not practical for swimming around with a group of scuba divers.

There are dive masks which cover the entire face and can contain communications equipment. They may look like helmets but do not cover the ears and will not solve your ear problems.

I think you'll have problems finding a dive resort that will hire you if you insist on wearing a dive helmet.  Most resorts want their divemasters to be flexible and able to handle many different assignments.  These include assisting instructors with students, leading dive trips, handling dive boat chores and also working around the dive shop.  You also need to be in a position to render aid if a rescue is necessary.  Remember your Rescue Diver classes?  How could you perform those duties if you were stuck inside a helmet that couldn't be removed without help?  You cannot just pop these helmets off your head like a dive mask.  Given the choice between hiring a divemaster who must wear a helmet for diving and one who does not...which would YOU choose?

I can sense how badly you want to dive but the reality is that you've already got a history of ruptured eardrum and it's very likely that you'll do it again if you continue diving.  If you insist on diving, I think you need to pay PARTICULAR ATTENTION to your equalization techniques.  If done properly, there is very little stress on the eardrum.  As I have already mentioned, you must equalize early and very often...almost continuously...to avoid stressing your eardrum.  That's difficult to master and if you screw it up even once, you risk severe damage to your eardrum and also the structures inside your middle ear (the area that will be flooded if your eardrum ruptures).

Once again, Robert, I know how much you want to dive and I think you'll probably continue to do it regardless of what I recommend.  With that in mind, my advice is to be very careful with your equalization and be aware of the damage you can do to your ear if you re-injure your eardrum. It's a very risky decision and I hope you consider it carefully.  If it were me, I'd stick to classroom and pool work and not pursue deep diving.

Once again, I wish you the best in your decision.

Mike