Halifax Diver 'Saltwater Sean' Advocates for Hearing Awareness After Permanent Tinnitus Diagnosis
Sean McMullen, a 40-year-old Halifax diver known online as 'Saltwater Sean,' developed permanent tinnitus and sudden sensorineural hearing loss in early 2021 after a scuba diving incident. He now uses his platform of over 100,000 followers to advocate for hearing protection while continuing to freedive and snorkel.
Sean McMullen, a 40-year-old diver from Halifax, has been living with permanent tinnitus and sudden sensorineural hearing loss since early 2021. Known online as "Saltwater Sean," he operates a social media platform with over 100,000 followers where he documents dives and trash cleanup efforts in Nova Scotia.
McMullen's symptoms began during a scuba diving certification course. After surfacing from a depth of six metres, he experienced dizziness, disorientation, and loud ringing. A hearing test conducted approximately one week later revealed a sudden drop in hearing in his right ear around the 3,000-4,000 hertz range, leading to a diagnosis of sudden sensorineural hearing loss.
The resulting tinnitus produces constant ringing that McMullen describes as sounding like a tea kettle whistling. The condition has affected his mental health, contributing to depression and anxiety due to the constant noise. He also experiences an inability to separate background noise from voices in noisy environments.
There is currently no cure for tinnitus. McMullen uses hearing aids that amplify missing sounds, though they do not restore full hearing or eliminate the ringing. Organizations such as Tinnitus Quest and the Canadian Academy of Audiology are working on solutions for the condition.
Despite initially fearing he could never dive again, McMullen returned to the water as a freediver and snorkeler. He stated that specialists confirmed these activities at his current depths are not contributing to worsening hearing. He now uses his online platform to advocate for hearing protection and awareness.