Question: Full mask clearing help (scuba diving)?

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Answer #1:

First, try to relax while your mask is off. I've had many students demonstrate this same difficulty - they have no problems flooding and clearing the mask while it remains in place but as soon as they remove the mask their breathing rate increases and their movements start to get panicky as they rush to replace the mask and clear it. Instead, relax and focus on your breathing - as long as you have air you are fine and your air supply does not depend on your mask at all.

To make this skill easier, try leaning forward while you remove your mask so that you are facing more towards the bottom instead of straight ahead. My experience is that this tends to keep water from wanting to come up through the nose and so makes mouth breathing a bit easier. You can also try to keep some positive air pressure in your nose to keep water out. After you finish exhaling while your mask is off, consciously pause for a moment and concentrate on making your next breath come only through the regulator in your mouth...try to focus on only opening the oral airway as you inhale so that there is no air movement at all through the nasal airway. This is the same sensation you would feel if you pinch your nose shut as you inhale, only instead of pinching your nose shut with your hand you would use your throat muscles to similarly isolate the nasal passageway.

Finally, keep leaning forward while you get your mask back in place and sealed...only start to look upwards as you begin to exhale through your nose to clear the mask. This again helps keep water from entering your nose and causing that choking sensation. If you do find yourself choking on water...again, don't panic. You will feel like you can't breathe in for a moment or two, but if you just relax and give your body a chance to do its thing it will remember how to open the airway again and allow air to enter. Always remember that panic is your absolute worst enemy while diving.

Good luck! I'm sure you will manage to get through this skill fine with a little more practice.





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