Swimmer’s ear in Thailand: ear pain after swimming or diving
Swimmer’s ear in Thailand is an infection of the ear canal, common when you spend all day in the sea or the pool. It usually causes an itchy, painful ear that hurts more when you tug the earlobe, and a pharmacist or doctor can treat it. Ear pain that starts while diving is different: stop diving and see a doctor.
The short version
Ear pain on holiday in five points
- Swimmer’s ear is an outer ear infection: itching, pain (worse when you pull your ear), a blocked feeling and sometimes discharge.
- Keep the ear dry and stay out of the water until it has cleared up. Don’t put cotton buds or fingers in your ear.
- See a pharmacist or doctor for the right ear drops. Don’t use drops if your eardrum might be damaged.
- Ear pain from diving is a pressure injury, not swimmer’s ear: stop diving and get checked.
- Dizziness, hearing loss or numbness after a dive is an emergency: oxygen, your dive centre and 1669.
What is swimmer’s ear?
Swimmer’s ear (doctors call it otitis externa) is an infection or inflammation of the ear canal, the tube between your outer ear and your eardrum. The CDC explains that it happens when water stays in the ear canal for a long time, giving bacteria a warm, damp place to grow. On a beach holiday, with hours of snorkelling, swimming and diving every day in a hot climate, that’s easy to do.
Scratching inside the ear, using cotton buds, wearing earplugs, and skin conditions like eczema make it more likely, because they damage the thin, protective skin of the ear canal.
Ear infection symptoms to look out for
Common symptoms of an outer ear infection include:
- Pain inside the ear, often worse when you pull your earlobe or press just in front of the ear
- Itching and irritation in and around the ear
- A feeling of pressure or fullness, or muffled hearing
- Discharge running out of the ear
- Scaly or red skin around the ear opening
- Sometimes a high temperature
Most ear infections clear up within about 3 days, though symptoms can last up to a week.
Ear pain after diving: swimmer’s ear or a pressure injury?
Phi Phi is one of Thailand’s favourite dive spots, so it’s important to know the difference. Swimmer’s ear usually builds up over a day or two of being in the water. Ear pain that starts during a dive, especially on the way down, is more likely to be middle-ear barotrauma, also called an ear squeeze.
Divers Alert Network (DAN) describes middle-ear barotrauma as the most common dive injury. It happens when you can’t equalise the pressure behind your eardrum as you descend. It starts as a blocked or stuffed feeling and can turn into severe pain, and in some cases fluid or blood builds up behind the eardrum or the eardrum tears.
- Stop diving as soon as your ears hurt, and don’t keep descending.
- See a doctor and don’t put any drops in your ear until a doctor has checked your eardrum.
- Don’t dive again until a doctor says the injury has healed.
- Don’t dive with a cold or blocked nose: congestion makes equalising much harder.
If you notice dizziness or a spinning feeling, ringing in the ear, sudden hearing loss, or numbness, weakness or joint pain after a dive, treat it as an emergency: oxygen, your dive centre and 1669. Our guide to diving and dehydration on Phi Phi explains the warning signs of decompression sickness.
Ear infection treatment in Thailand
Swimmer’s ear doesn’t usually need a hospital, but it does need the right treatment. Depending on the cause, a pharmacist or doctor may suggest antibiotic, antifungal, steroid or painkilling ear drops. In the meantime, the NHS advises:
- Don’t swim while you have an ear infection, and keep water and shampoo out of the ear.
- Don’t put anything in your ear, such as cotton buds or a finger, to clean it or to remove wax.
- Gently wipe away discharge from the outside of the ear with cotton wool.
- Ask a pharmacist about pain relief, and tell them about any other medicines, allergies or pregnancy.
There are pharmacies in Tonsai village, and the clinics on the island can look inside your ear with an otoscope to check the eardrum. Our guide to medical help on Koh Phi Phi lists where to go. Tell the pharmacist or doctor if you have been diving, because some ear drops are not suitable if the eardrum might be damaged.
When you need a doctor, not a drip
See a doctor if your earache doesn’t improve after 3 days, you feel generally unwell or have a high temperature, there is swelling around the ear, fluid is coming out of it, your hearing changes, or you feel dizzy or sick. Get checked sooner if you have diabetes, a weakened immune system, or a heart, lung or kidney condition, and for any baby under 12 months with earache. After a dive, sudden hearing loss, vertigo, numbness, weakness or breathing problems are an emergency: give oxygen if available, tell your dive centre and call 1669 (Thailand emergency medical services).
How to prevent swimmer’s ear on a beach holiday
The CDC’s advice is all about keeping the ear canal dry and leaving it alone:
- Dry your ears with a towel after every swim and shower.
- Tilt your head to each side, and gently pull the earlobe in different directions, to let water drain out.
- Use a hairdryer on the lowest heat and speed, held well away from the ear, if water stays trapped.
- Leave earwax alone: it helps protect the ear canal. Never use cotton buds or other objects inside the ear.
- Ask a pharmacist or doctor about ear-drying drops if you get swimmer’s ear often, but don’t use them if you have a damaged eardrum, ear tubes or discharge.
If you’re snorkelling, a well-fitting swim cap can help keep water out. Divers should not use ordinary earplugs underwater, because they trap air and stop you equalising.
Does an IV drip help an ear infection?
No. An ear infection needs the right ear drops from a pharmacist or doctor, not a drip. We mention it because guests sometimes ask: if you’re also feeling run down or dehydrated after days on the water, that’s something we can help with, but please get your ear checked first.
Ear FAQ
Swimmer’s ear in Thailand: your questions
Can I swim with swimmer’s ear?
No. The NHS advises staying out of the water while you have an ear infection. Swimming keeps the ear canal wet and slows healing.
Can I fly with an ear infection?
Many people with an outer ear infection fly without trouble, but flying can be painful if your middle ear is affected or you have a cold. If your ear is very painful or you’ve had a diving ear injury, ask a doctor before you fly.
Where can I get swimmer’s ear drops in Thailand?
Pharmacies in Thailand sell ear drops, and on Koh Phi Phi there are pharmacies in Tonsai village. Ask the pharmacist to recommend something suitable, and tell them if you’ve been diving.
How long does swimmer’s ear last?
Most ear infections clear up within about 3 days, though symptoms can last up to a week. See a doctor if it’s not improving after 3 days.
Can I dive after an ear infection?
Wait until it has completely cleared and you can equalise easily. After a diving ear injury, don’t dive again until a doctor says it has healed.
Keep reading
Staying well in and on the water
See our guide to dehydration after diving on Phi Phi, or medical help on Koh Phi Phi for clinics and pharmacies on the island.
Sources: NHS: Ear infections · CDC: Preventing swimmer’s ear · DAN: Middle-ear barotrauma. Last updated October 2026.
Feeling rough? Help is one message away.
Daily 8:00 – 22:00