Breathing without a mask on.

[below_sea_level]

Yesterday was my first day in the pool. We done a couple of exercises like taking the regulator out of our mouth and clearing our masks underwater. The next one we tried was to take the mask off for 5 breaths and i kept wanting to breath in through my nose and had to surface. Is there anything that I can do to help myself?:doctor:

 

[sealkie]

1. practise breathing thro your mouth - you are probarbly a nose breather naturally so you have to make the mental switch - wearing your mask will help this - but it is something you can do on land - just concentrate on breathing in and out thro your mouth

2. look down - or at the very least keep you head level - if you look up water will run up your nose

3. focus on breathing in and out of your mouth - think zen like relaxed thoughs ... iiiiinnnnnn .....ooooouuuuttt ...

4. If you feel water is inching into you nose and you don`t like the feeling breath in thro the mouth and out thro the nose

Practise the breathing skill on land - I know it sounds crazy - it helps if you don`t share an office :0)

You can also try and practise with a snorkle in the bath tub

 

[Scottri]

My suggestion is to inhale through your mouth and exhale through your nose when the mask is off of your head. If you have to you can practice by pinching your nose when you inhale. Another tactic that has worked for me in the past is to have the student force their tongue up into the roof of their mouth when they breathe without the mask on.

It's tough skill for some people to learn but hang in there, you'll get it!


Scott

 

[Walter]

Think about drinking through a straw.

 

[Pappy]

I have read DOZENS of questions similiar to the one that started this.

While, in most cases, they get excellent advise which, I'm sure, is appreciated, I can't help but wonder, WHERE ARE THESE PEOPLES INSTRUCTORS?????????

The more I read, the more I feel I should go kiss my instructor right on the lips!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Walter]

"WHERE ARE THESE PEOPLES INSTRUCTORS?????????"

They are there, most of them are doing their best. Unfortunately, their best isn't good enough and they shouldn't be teaching.

 

[below_sea_level]

Walter what do you mean by the last post?

 

[Walter]

I'm sorry if it wasn't clear.

Pappy asked why people come to this board for help when they should have obtained help from their instructors.

My answer is the vast majority of SCUBA instructors are doing their best to give that help. There are some who, frankly, don't care. Unfortunately, most SCUBA instructors don't know how to effectively teach people to dive. Some don't have the right makeup and will never be good instructors. A good deal of them could be good if they'd learn how to teach and then teach the basics they currently leave out of their classes. Simply put, the vast majority of SCUBA instructors are incompetent.

I hope that clears it up.

 

[jbichsel]

Scottri once bubbled...
Another tactic that has worked for me in the past is to have the student force their tongue up into the roof of their mouth when they breathe without the mask on.

I was taught to breath this way at all time with a regulator or snorkel in order to prevent any water from shooting into the back of your throat on an inhale. The water will hit your tongue and not cause you to choke.

Hope I get to touch Walter's instructor's ring one day. Even to have the honor to see it would be sublime.

 

[below_sea_level]

It's not that my instructor does not want to help or has no idea how to help the situation. I have been in the pool once and he said that we will work more on that later. I am sure he will do his best to help me learn all the techniques that I need.=-)