Girlfriend has some concerns with breathing underwater.

[dallaskincaid]

So, I've finally talked my girlfriend into getting certified. The problem is she is having a tough time breathing only through her mouth and not her nose while underwater. Any suggestions for her so she will stop worrying about drowning herself!

 

[mala]

go to a pool and get her to swim around with a snorkle and mask.

 

[herbdb]

Great minds think alike. You beat me to it.

Take her snorkeling even if its just in a pool. A good skill before starting scuba training. When she has that mastered, get her to sit in shallow water and breathe through the snorkel without the mask. Knowing she can just stand up will take away some of the fear.

 

[boulderjohn]

Great mind think alike. You beat me to it.

Take her snorkeling even if its just in a pool. A good skill before starting scuba training. When she has that mastered, get her to sit in shallow water and breathe through the snorkel without the mask. Knowing she can just stand up will take away some of the fear.

You don't need to go to a pool to do that--a good sized sink will do.

You may want to have her practice out of the water first. Sit on the sofa with the snorkel in the mouth, pinching her nose closed with her fingers. Do that for a while to get the hang of mouth only breathing. Then take the fingers away for awhile, making sure that the nose breathing does not resume. Then get the face in the water.

 

[Hawkwood]

So, I've finally talked my girlfriend into getting certified. ...

Does she actually want to do this? I am asking as "difficulties" in class often arise when someone is in the class only because they were "talked into" being there.

 

[Captain Bil]

Does she actually want to do this? I am asking as "difficulties" in class often arise when someone is in the class only because they were "talked into" being there.

Thank you, you beat me to it.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

 

[Cliffpiper]

I think this thread is pretty much answered. Great replies, especially the ones asking if she really wants to take up diving. If she doesn't, surely there are other great buddies out there who will be more than happy to dive with you.

Safe and Happy Diving!

 

[DivemasterDennis]

I would add that we have a significant number of students who have to overcome "nose breathing," and some deal with that issue for the first time in the open water pool sessions. I find most deal with it quickly and without problems. It's important that dallaskinkaid's girlfriend not over think the problem. If she needs to "practice" mouth breathing, she can do that without a snorkel. Just put on the mask and talk and do other things normally. There may be a cheat or two, but getting used to the mask on her face is probably a bigger deal than breathing through her mouth. Tell her the issue is VERY common, and she should not be worrying about it.
DivemasterDennis

 

[Shasta_man]

Guaranteed no problem at all. Tell her once she is underwater and wants to breathe, after even a single nose inhalation, there will be significant incentive to only breathe through her mouth.

 

[Divejones]

(a) even if she breathes normally, she can only breathe thorugh mouth with mask on, so tell her try not to think about it (b) there is another Breathing Yoga technique called the KapalBhati (google it), done at faster pace will automatically put her into 'breathing through mouth' rhythm