Breathing without mask technique?

[John_B]

I struggled so hard to master this skill in my OW class. If not for the patience of a certain divemaster I might still be in the shallow end of the pool, with my face in the water, practicing mask removal and clearing over and over (and over).

But a funny thing happened early on in my dive "career". I had descended a down line to a wreck when the buffoon directly above me crashed into me, full steam ahead. I managed to keep my regulator in my mouth, but my mask went flying (floating?). It was chaos for at least a minute or so, while I managed to get my mask back (with help) and get it back on my face and cleared. I can't imagine how I would've reacted at depth if I hadn't worked on this over and over (and over) until I had mastered the skill. That's when I first understood that OW skills are really just basic survival skills underwater, and how wrong things can go in an instant. For everyone who says "it'll probably never happen", they may be right, but you never know when you'll need it and wish you'd practiced it.

Fast forward to today, anytime my mask fogs up, I just take it off, rub my fingers over the inside of the mask so both sides of the glass are the same temperature, and put it back on my head.

 

[stairman]

Ive had my mask kicked a few times but never knocked off. A hood will slow it down as well. A good aftermarket nylon strap with only the stretchy pad is more durable and is all I use. It is still good to be able to swim without a mask and is mandatory in cave class. I have heard of a small percentage of people who thru sinus design are physically unable to breathe thru the mouth alone. A good way to train yourself for this skill right on your couch is to fill your mask up with water and breathe thru your mouth. If you can do it at home you can do it while diving.

 

[ctjwa]

It's very comforting to hear that I'm not the only one who has problems with this! When I did it in the pool training class i was on my knees so the bubbles up the nose might have been the problem. I'm definitely going to practice with the snorkel and swimmers goggles next time I can get in a pool or shallows.

My next question is what the best practice is for people with contact lenses (I have multiple mask problems here!). Should I never open my eyes? Will the contacts float out?

 

[boulderjohn]

It's very comforting to hear that I'm not the only one who has problems with this! When I did it in the pool training class i was on my knees so the bubbles up the nose might have been the problem. I'm definitely going to practice with the snorkel and swimmers goggles next time I can get in a pool or shallows.

My next question is what the best practice is for people with contact lenses (I have multiple mask problems here!). Should I never open my eyes? Will the contacts float out?

I used to wear contacts (then had lasik), and I always shut my eyes. I have been assured many times by people in the know that the contact will NOT float out, but I have never tried it.

 

[lowviz]

I use either a corrective mask or a plano mask and a disposable contact in one eye for distance. Never lost a contact yet, lots of mask-off training, put the contact in and forget it. Don't know why, but they do stay in. I wouldn't try this with an expensive contact, though.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

Relax and think about what is happening every step of the way. Tell yourself to inhale through your mouth only. I didn't have a problem with mask removal in OW, but I haven't had my mask off in the water once in more than 23 years of diving.

 

[dumpsterDiver]

To begin with, it's not inevitable that you will lose your mask on a dive some day. It's never happened to me, and I really can't think of anyone at the moment who has experienced it accidentally. Now, I have taken my mask off intentionally quite a few times during a dive--it's the best thing to do when you feel a sneeze coming on, believe me. I have had my mask removed from my face by my tech diving instructor a number of times as well. It has never happened to me accidentally, though..

I've had my mask slammed and knocked loose or off my face several times. I even did a terrible entry once and smashed the glass faceplate completely on the dive mask. In any regard, having the mask relocated on your face so that you can not see and have water over the nose is not that unusual if you are engaged in spearfishing or dive around bad buddies in bad vis.

I consider the maskless breathig an absolutely essential skill, although it is vastly harder in really cold water. I also think it is essential to be able to open your eyes underwater in case you lose the mask and your buddy. You gotta be able to look for the mask a little, right?

This thread reminded me of a video I made when I had a terrible camera... Skip to 1:20 and you can see me making my 10-yr old buddy breath while neither of us are wearing masks...This too is an essential skill in MY book. He would not be diving anywhere but a shallow bay if he could not do this easily.

To the OP.. keep practicing, you will get it sooner or later.. One of the things that I learned is that if you exhale out the nose with no mask, then the water tends to shoot up the nose when you begin to inhale.. so breath in and out of your mouth and keep the nose locked tight.. as you learn the skill. Keep working on the skill until it is easy, it will be worth the effort.

Trying to hold your nose in an real underwater emergency is BS.

john and me - YouTube

 

[UforSCUBA?]

I was also a nose holder. Like someone said above, I filled my mask up, put it on my face and walked around the house. If you try it, do it over the sink or in the shower the first time so you don't make a big ol mess like I did.

Also, when putting it back on underwater, I didn't mess with the strap until after I cleared the mask. Trying to put the strap on with the mask full of water seemed to shove the water right up my nose. Just hold it to your face, clear it, then slide the strap over your head.

You're definitely not alone in this. It was the hardest skill for me to overcome.

Good luck!

 

[lowviz]

...//... Keep working on the skill until it is easy, it will be worth the effort. ...//...

Absolutely. When you finally come to see your mask as 'optional', you will have removed a big step towards the panic cycle.

 

[LindaSSF]

2. Breath out your nose at first to keep the water out, but then try to do with only breathing through your mouth.

When I am teaching folks who are not comfortable underwater, I ask them to submerge & hum a tune. It automatically requires constant air thru the nose. It can make the process of having your mask off MUCH easier. At first, they pinch their nose or surface for their breath, and eventually try mouth breathing for that next breath. Concentrating on that tune you are humming seems to help you relax with the task.

Personally, I have such horrible seasonal allergies, beathing only thru my mouth is something I practice way too much. I don't recommend allergies, but it does the trick. Maybe practice on land with your nose pinched/plugged?