Reply #5: Years ago, they were talking about "fluid breathing"

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folks at Temple University were developing a what was esssentially an oxygenated liquid that could be put into the lungs to save the lungs of preemies and people with lung damage. There were also some thoughts that it might work for divers, because there wouldn't be the need for decompressing. They wanted to test it on adult volunteers, so they came to our dive club (one of the researchers dove with us). Not surprisingly, there were no takers...

Sadly, I had to quit diving because one of my ear tubes (?) is way smaller than the other, which makes it hard to equalize. I saw a doctor once who was also a diver, and he said "oh, we can ream that right out for you and get you back in the ocean again".

Well, no, I won't use the word "ream" and "ear" in the same sentence unless my hearing is at risk or something. No way do those two words go together for a hobby, however enjoyable.