Ear injuries can cause extreme pain, hearing loss, vertigo, and infection. For this reason, it's important to seek medical attention as soon as possible if you suspect you have damaged your ears. Fortunately, most cases do not result in permanent hearing loss, and you'll be able to return to the water as soon as the eardrum has healed and your doctor has given you an approval.

If you experience minor dizziness at the surface but do not feel any pain, you've likely experienced a minor reverse block. In this event, hold onto a stable object until the dizziness ends. This usually occurs within a few minutes.