The Dodson Dive

A couple years ago, I wrote about something that seemed almost too simple to matter: entering the lake butt-first instead of diving headfirst. That article is here.

At the time, some readers chuckled. Others probably figured I was running out of sauna topics.

But here we are, two years later, and I can report that the method has worked remarkably well for me.

Before adopting this approach, swimmer’s ear was an occasional nuisance. Anyone who has spent enough summers bouncing between hot sauna sessions and cool lake water knows the drill. First comes the slight irritation. Then the tenderness. Then, if you’re unlucky, the throbbing earache that can turn a perfect cabin weekend, or sauna travel, into a miserable experience.

Swimmer’s ear diagnosis and treatment from the island

Four years ago, while up at our island cabin, I came down with a nasty case of swimmer’s ear.

As luck would have it, I was on a sauna consulting call with a client, walking him through his sauna plans. At some point during the conversation, I happened to glance down at his email signature: Ear, Nose & Throat.

Serendipity?

After we wrapped up talking sauna, I asked if we could briefly turn the tables.

“Could be trapped water,” he said. “But more likely you’ve got an infection and inflammation in there. What’s your nearest pharmacy? I’ll call in a prescription for an antibiotic ear drop.”

Then, almost on cue, my wife returned to the cabin from her early morning swim and said, “I think I’m heading into town. Need anything?”

Boom.

Excellent health care, a pharmacy run, and I never had to leave the island.

One phone call later, Dr. Brennen Dodson came to the rescue with a prescription for antibiotic ear drops.

But it got me thinking: prevention beats treatment.

Not long afterward, I began experimenting with entering the water in a way that avoided blasting lake water directly into my ear canals. Instead of diving headfirst, I tried feet-first, often landing in a seated, butt-first position before fully submerging.

The result? No water trapping. No swimmer’s ear.

Now, I’m not presenting this as a scientific study. It’s one guy, one lake, and a sample size of exactly one. But after two years of consistent success, I’m sticking with it.

So I’ve decided the maneuver deserves a name.

In honor of the doctor who helped me out when I needed it most, I hereby christen it:

The Dodson Dive

Ironically, it’s not really a dive at all.

It’s a splash, a plop, a seated entry, or whatever else you want to call it.

What matters is that my ears have been happier ever since.

When we dive headfirst off a dock or into a lake from a floating sauna, the force of entry seems to drive water directly into our ear canals. At least that’s how it feels. The pressure of the splash and sudden submersion can leave your ears feeling plugged and full of water.

The Dodson Dive is different.

Entering the water butt-first creates a softer, more gradual displacement. Rather than leading with your head and ears, your body enters the water from the other end. It almost feels as though the water is being pushed away from your ears rather than forced into them.

I’m no fluid dynamics expert, and this certainly isn’t a peer-reviewed study. But after two years of Dodson Diving, my ears have stayed dry, comfortable, and free of swimmer’s ear.

Sometimes the best innovations are simple solutions. Sometimes they’re just a different way of getting into the lake. And for anyone who spends their summers rotating between sauna heat and cold-water immersion, happier ears are a pretty good outcome.

Sure, you may sacrifice a few likes on your Instagram reel by passing on the macho headfirst dive. But for me, the Dodson Dive has become the preferred method for keeping swimmer’s ear at bay.

Safety bonus

Most of us grew up hearing warnings from parents, grandparents, camp counselors, and anyone else watching over a dock full of kids: never dive headfirst into unknown water. Those warnings weren’t without reason. Every lake community seems to have a story about someone whose life changed forever from a dive into shallow water.

The Dodson Dive comes with a built-in safety advantage. If the water is shallower than expected, the worst-case scenario is a bruised Forrest Gump buttox region. That’s a far better outcome than a head, neck, or spinal injury from a poorly judged dive.

As sauna bathers, we’re often moving from a hot room to cool water with enthusiasm. The Dodson Dive slows things down just enough to protect the ears, and perhaps a few other important body parts as well.