Exhaling through your nose good or bad?

[mburden]

Ever since I got certified I have always been exhaling through my nose and not my mouth. Now I’m going on 3 years of diving with 170+ dives but I continue to do this on a regular basis and I have been going thru masks quite regularly as well. I usually have two masks I take diving with me one with prescription lenses while not wearing contacts and the other is just a normal mask for when I do where my contacts. It seems that after 20-30 dives on a mask the seals around the lenses start to leak air outward. At depth this can cause a pretty sever mask squeeze since the mask has a tendency to implode on me unless I keep constant pressure in the mask. None of my masks ever have a problem with leaking (taking on water) or fogging.

On my last dive my buddy was concerned about how bad my mask was fizzing that we traded masks for a few minutes just so he could show me my fizzing problem

I do not know if there is some way I can change this habit and or try to use a mask with a nose purge in it, which I have never used yet. Any and all suggestions are greatly appreciated.

 

[hecker-the-wrecker]

I use a purge mask (pano-p4) it's a new design with an easier access nose piece (for pressure equilization). I blow out my nose all the time. Give one a try, I got mine off of e-bay for $40.00 and I think it's the best.

 

[Snowbear]

Ever since I got certified I have always been exhaling through my nose and not my mouth.
...
At depth this can cause a pretty sever mask squeeze since the mask has a tendency to implode on me unless I keep constant pressure in the mask. None of my masks ever have a problem with leaking (taking on water) or fogging.

Strange - if you are exhaling through your nose, you should be automatically keeping your mask equalized and shouldn't have a problem with mask squeeze?:06::06:

On my last dive my buddy was concerned about how bad my mask was fizzing that we traded masks for a few minutes just so he could show me my fizzing problem

Sounds like the silicone is breaking down prematurely. It shouldn't be caused by exhaling through your nose however - unless you have some strange body chemistry that is incompatible with silicone?

I do not know if there is some way I can change this habit and or try to use a mask with a nose purge in it, which I have never used yet.

Well, I admit I exhale through my nose a lot while diving, but have not had a problem because of it. I used to use a mask with a purge valve, but the current one is just a plain ol' low volume one. It's had.... Oh I dunno.... maybe 100 dives or so and is holding up just fine.

 

[mburden]

Strange - if you are exhaling through your nose, you should be automatically keeping your mask equalized and shouldn't have a problem with mask squeeze?:06::06:Sounds like the silicone is breaking down prematurely. It shouldn't be caused by exhaling through your nose however - unless you have some strange body chemistry that is incompatible with silicone?Well, I admit I exhale through my nose a lot while diving, but have not had a problem because of it. I used to use a mask with a purge valve, but the current one is just a plain ol' low volume one. It's had.... Oh I dunno.... maybe 100 dives or so and is holding up just fine.

That is so true so I thought about the whole partial pressure thing in the mask it is just those times when I'm taking that pic and trying to stay still with little or no bubbles at all, the mask will try to fold from the leak. I really need to try another solution like a LP mask or maybe just a all around better mask. You did remind me that my masks are all pretty weathered from all the dang surface swims we do on our beach dives so they see alot more sun exsposure then a boat dive would. So I take it exhaling through the nose is a common pratice just not with my dive buddies that think I'm so strange for doing that.

 

[Keysdrifter454]

I do not know if there is some way I can change this habit and or try to use a mask with a nose purge in it, which I have never used yet. Any and all suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Can you blow up a balloon?

 

[jonnythan]

It's weird that you mention that. At about 23 minutes into every dive, I suddenly can't help but breathe out of my nose, even when inhaling. It goes away around 30 minutes. It's a very weird problem I'm trying to make go away.

 

[Bubble Blower 479]

I have never had a problem breathing thru my nose. The only issue I've ever experienced was that sometimes water would leak in. I have silicone masks I've had since the 80's that still function just fine. Maybe your strap is too tight and you are putting pressure on the mask in the wrong places. I also like to use a mask with a purge so that if I get any water in my mask the next exhale will get rid of it. I'm just fine without the purge, however, the purge removes any water without any thought on my part.

 

[PhotoTJ]

I find that I fog my mask a little if I do that, but I still catch myself once and a while.

 

[mburden]

I have never had a problem breathing thru my nose. The only issue I've ever experienced was that sometimes water would leak in. I have silicone masks I've had since the 80's that still function just fine. Maybe your strap is too tight and you are putting pressure on the mask in the wrong places. I also like to use a mask with a purge so that if I get any water in my mask the next exhale will get rid of it. I'm just fine without the purge, however, the purge removes any water without any thought on my part.

You said somethng that clicked which is my mask strap. I had to replace it recently with a strap that is more like a fin strap. Very very tight fit and like I said the mask never leaks water. So I went to the pool with a pony and down to 15ft I went losened up the strap with out the snorkel and no more fizzels. I would of never thought I was wearing the dang thing so tight. Sice there is a lot less presure I was not exhaling thru my nose as much. I will need to test this out this weekend in the ocean at depth. I'm still going to try out a couple of new masks to see if it does make a difference since all of my seem to have sun stroke. Clear as well as black skirts seem to discolor over time.

 

[mburden]

Can you blow up a balloon?

Sure a balloon, liftbag, bcd , the Hindenburg what is the difference