This was probably the hardest skill in my OW certification class for me also. In the first confined water class, I realized that it was going to be a problem for me. My solution was to practice flooding & clearing my mask many times while snorkeling at a local spring the next day. That helped me get through the certification process. However, I still wasn't truly comfortable with a flooded mask.
I think that beyond "don't hold your breathe" & "don't ascend too fast", that mask clearing is one of the most important skills you learn in Open Water. More specifically, I think that it is important that all OW students become comfortable breathing without a mask. It is entirely possible for a diver to find themselves without a mask OR a regulator. It is obvious that the regulator is most important, so the mask (or mask clearing) needs to take a back seat at that point.
I practice mask flooding & clearing, mask removal & replacement, & even hand off my mask to my buddy for a while on a regular basis. I had some serious issues with this skill when I first started diving, & I am just glad that I didn't have a serious emergency requiring me to function without my mask in cold water in a stressful situation, because I would have absolutely flipped out.
Work with this skill until it is old hat, & then keep up with it by testing yourself at least every other dive. Others have posted here with many good pointers, my point is to use their advice & master this skill, then keep in practice.
Hey skull, not to worry. While I tend to agreee with some other's assesment of your original post, I could see from that post that your heart is in the right place.
