How long can you stand it sans mask?

[matt_unique]

For those who practice mask off drills in our cold waters, how long do you usually keep your mask off? There are two phases from my experience....the initial blast of cold with the biological affects from the nerves in your face that prevent you from inhaling, etc. Once that "equalizes" so to speak, you can breath. Then after a short period of time the ice cream headache sets in. That's when I've had enough fun The available time before the ice cream headache sets in decreases as the temp decreases of course. This past weekend (and the weekend before) we had 48 and 46 degree water temps respectively. The ice cream headache sets in pretty quick in these temps.

--Matt

 

[Soggy]

It sucks, that's for sure...

In real cold water, I don't keep my mask off for long...just long enough to do the drill, or to get my backup mask out and on my face.