No worries Martin. I admit I’m treading on water myself trying to accurately describe the experience of using these things. I can’t say they actually kept all the water out. I doubt they did. But then again I never felt any water inside if that makes any sense. I was thinking about how you described the water trapped in your ears and sloshing around....I didn’t get that at all. When I got out of the water and took them out there was no water trapped to come out. The website is a bit contraditory on this point. On one hand I think it mentions that it only keeps the flow of water in and out to a minimum. On the other hand it mentions a benefit of no, or less, ear infections. I would think if any of that nasty sea water gets in there you have an equal chance of a bacterial infection...but I’m no doctor.
For my dive to 97’...I was genuinely shocked how easy I went down. An instructor buddy of mine even commented that she never once saw me clear the whole way down. I’ve never cleared that well in my two yeas of diving. The only weird thing I can’t explain is why I could not do my usual nose-sqeeze-blow&clear to get that nice pop. These ear plugs really seemed to regulate the flow of air and pressure nicely. Oh, and yes they are the vented version. Just a small hole. No clue how it works. I tossed the leash that came with them as they would just get in the way. They fit nice and snug in my ears and don’t feel like they will fall out or are too tight.
And again, I really can’t say that anyone else will have the same result. Heck, I can’t even claim after only two dives that I will ever have the same result. I’m just encouraged is all. If my results change in the future I’ll be sure to post again. Good luck.