Getting Used to the Taste of Saltwater

[Mandarin Goby]

Hello, everyone...

When I did my Discovery Dive last May, the taste of saltwater was pretty difficult to handle. I was completely unprepared for it after doing my (5 minute) pool training, and it made me initially panic thinking that my regulator was leaking. I kept hitting the purge valve and spitting into the regulator. When I got back onto the boat, I felt pretty ill.

I watch everyone's pix and videos and it just seems all of you just take the taste of saltwater in stride. Chlorinated pool water is not a big deal, although I wouldn't drink it, but getting any saltwater into my reg...yuck.

So how do you guys handle this? Was it hard for you to take at first, and then you just got used to it, or are there special techniques or something you guys use (like keeping margarita mix in your mouth...maybe a lime Starburst or something).

 

[fppf]

Keep your reg in your mouth?

Does not bother us I guess, never really thought about it.
It does do a nice job of pointing out every little cut or nick you have. LOL

I hate having it dry in my ears, hate those crusty's

 

[bvmjethead]

I'm not so sure I understand why you're tasting saltwater.

I've never had water come through my regulator into my mouth, at least I've never noticed it or been bothered by it.

Is your regulator leaking?

 

[ScubaTexan]

It gets better the more you do it. It's no worse than gargling with salt water.

 

[Mandarin Goby]

It might have leaked on the Discovery Dive. Rented equipment. And since my only other dives since have been in the pool (during my current pool training), I guess I really have no basis to know how much water actually gets in or seeps in. Like I said, that original taste of water made me think there was something wrong, and that I thought my reg was leaking, so maybe it actually was. For most of you, is this something (getting that salty taste in your mouth) that doesn't generally occur?

 

[fppf]

Not unless you take your reg out of your mouth.
Or you have one of those goofy lip piercings, LOL

 

[Ice9]

Ya, basically if you have your reg in your mouth, you should NOT be tasting salt water. If your are getting enough salt water that its making you sick, then you are doing something wrong. Is it leaking into your reg??

 

[hunter991]

On most dives I dont' really get any saltwater in my mouth unless I take it out to talk to someone on the surface or something along those lines. There is a potential for some regulator issues to allow water to come in. I bet if you try it with a different reg set it won't bother you. You can always dive with a hard candy like a jolly rancher or something. Some people do this to help them equalize. Just be careful not to choke on it.

Brent

 

[Mandarin Goby]

New business idea...Fruit flavored regulator mouthpieces!!! Nobody steal it.

 

[Doc Intrepid]

Perhaps its an acquired taste. Or else, its a mental thing where you can revise your thinking.

The taste of saltwater never bothered me,...but I loved the ocean even as a kid and associated the smell and tastes of swimming in it with good times.

I still pull my reg out and rinse out my mouth with saltwater when I get wicked drymouth on longer dives.

Since it isn't something you can change or avoid, I suggest you try convincing yourself that you find the taste of the ocean agreeable! It comes down to "mind over matter"...

If you don't mind, then it don't matter!