Get a BP/W!
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:d
Mask clearing - struggling with the last few drops.
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ScubaSteve
Wow.....what a DB
ScubaSteve
Wow.....what a DB
I would suggest asking the instructor to watch what you are doing and see if they can spot the issue. Tilting your head back and only applying pressure to the top of your mask are both good suggestions. But then I would suggest that you learn to accept the water in the mask. It happens and I for one just learned to ignore it. We need to be comfortable turning off our nose so I call it practice.
CamG
Contributor
Greetings Softballer and it is pretty common to have the 1/8 to a 1/4 of water in your mask in the beginning. You will learn to clear your mask totally with more practice and experience. Close supervision could reveal a flaw in your technique that is allowing this to take place.
Another option is to gather a few different masks and see which one clears the easiest for you. I have found that some larger volume masks are significantly harder to clear than the low volume frameless. It really makes a difference and I have seen it make diving so much more enjoyable. Just some ideas and you have gotten some great advice. Sounds like it is time to go to the pool!
Good luck and keep us posted.
CamG Keep diving....keep training....keep learning!
Another option is to gather a few different masks and see which one clears the easiest for you. I have found that some larger volume masks are significantly harder to clear than the low volume frameless. It really makes a difference and I have seen it make diving so much more enjoyable. Just some ideas and you have gotten some great advice. Sounds like it is time to go to the pool!
Good luck and keep us posted.
CamG Keep diving....keep training....keep learning!
Herk_Man
Contributor
And a spare air! Duh!
But seriously, a lot of people actually leave a little water in the bottom so that if they fog up, they can tilt their head down and let the water roll over the fog and clear it.
If you really want it out, I recommend not lifting the mask off of your face when you clear. Just put pressure on the forehead part of the mask. If you have to lift the mask, make sure you are still blowing out when you reseat the bottom of the mask so that the pressure keeps water from recovering into the mask.
If none of this works, decide if you are ok with a little water (most people are) or try a different mask.
One final option would be a clearing valve but I used to use one of these and they sometimes have comfort and mask volume issues.
Good luck!
Hi there
I know you're asking about mask clearing rather than mask leakage, but as a fellow newbie I thought I'd mention this - I've recently had issues with water leaking back into my mask after clearing, and ultimately (I'm a bit slow) figured out that a tiny portion of the mask skirt was ever so slightly bent underneath itself, which was enough to allow a small amount of water back in. Might be worth checking for this and for hair in the mask. Or like roatanman said, ignore if you can (I generally have a small amount of water under my nose).
All the best
M
I know you're asking about mask clearing rather than mask leakage, but as a fellow newbie I thought I'd mention this - I've recently had issues with water leaking back into my mask after clearing, and ultimately (I'm a bit slow) figured out that a tiny portion of the mask skirt was ever so slightly bent underneath itself, which was enough to allow a small amount of water back in. Might be worth checking for this and for hair in the mask. Or like roatanman said, ignore if you can (I generally have a small amount of water under my nose).
All the best
M
I think it may have to do with the conformation of the mask, too. My mask fits well and is normally completely dry, but on the rare occasions when I get a hair under the skirt or something and have to clear it, I end up with a little puddle of water under my nose, even when the viewing portion of the mask is clear. I suppose I could contort myself around and try to get rid of it, but as others have said, I just ignore it.
For what it's worth, some days my mask has water in it -- some days it is completely dry -- some days it clears completely -- some days, well, you get the picture.
The most important thing is to be comfortable. Honestly, I think it is best to learn to be comfortable with some water in your mask then, on the days everything is right, you are even better off.
The most important thing is to be comfortable. Honestly, I think it is best to learn to be comfortable with some water in your mask then, on the days everything is right, you are even better off.
There may be some simple physics involved.
Air wants to go up. That is why you have to hold the top of your mask against the forehead. Otherwise it will all go out the top of your mask when you exhale and not force the water out.
Once you are exhaling, the water wants to go down.
Are you letting that happen?
Visualize what your mask looks like while you are doing the skill. If your head is tilted at the wrong angle, a little water will gather at the lowest point (the bottom of the mask near the lens) rather than exit through the skirt. The bottom of the mask skirt needs to be the lowest point of the mask, or some water will stay in it.
Air wants to go up. That is why you have to hold the top of your mask against the forehead. Otherwise it will all go out the top of your mask when you exhale and not force the water out.
Once you are exhaling, the water wants to go down.
Are you letting that happen?
Visualize what your mask looks like while you are doing the skill. If your head is tilted at the wrong angle, a little water will gather at the lowest point (the bottom of the mask near the lens) rather than exit through the skirt. The bottom of the mask skirt needs to be the lowest point of the mask, or some water will stay in it.
jmasin
Contributor
Given I shave once a week, fewer times when on vacation 
, I typically have water in my mask. I just ignore it.
In fact, it can be quite useful in clearing any fog that occurs (I use defog but sometimes forget).
, I typically have water in my mask. I just ignore it.In fact, it can be quite useful in clearing any fog that occurs (I use defog but sometimes forget).
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