Mask flooding - panicking

[The Kraken]

Just remember, water is that stuff in which your Momma washed you face all those years when you were a youngun . . . and it ain't hurt ya a bit!

the K

 

[Captain Jack]

I am a new diver as well... during our training it seemed that every time we went in the water we were doing a mask removal or flood skill. We did our skills in the Gulf, remove mask drill!... did some skills in a sinkhole, mask drills.... dives in the sinkhole, more mask drills!!! I was thinking that we should be about done with this mask removal thing and when we finally did our last two check-out dives at Crystal River.... yep, more mask removal drills!!

I am so glad now that we did that skill so many times...

 

[Tonio Anastasi]

Hi guys

Are there any techniques that can be used to deal with panic attacks?

Finally, I was thinking of using my safety stops in the future to flood my mask so that I get used to the sensation. Is this a good idea?

Many thanks for any tips.

This may sound cruel, but I think its a good think that you had this problem as you learned a few things. About mask clearing. About dealing with problems, about yourself. About your limitations.
What is also good is that you have taken to heart the lessons learned, and you understand the why of it. and that from previous experience, that these things can and do happen,
All signs of a good diver.
As for the how?
Your explantion says you understood that after trying to cope it went tits up.
Somebody here suggested that you remember your basics.
STOP-BREATH-ACCESS-BREATH-ACT. Take that advise to heart.what that advise basically means is that you try and break down what you are doing into small parts.
Remember, you also have your diving buddy so get him to give you a hand.
You also understand, that you need to be more comfortable with water in the maks. You own solution practise at the safety stop is very valid.

What may also help is swimming about on the surface face in the water, no mask with just a snorkle (and a bathing costume or wet suit )

 

[TSandM]

I agree -- It's good you had this experience, because there are a lot of lessons in it.

My flooded mask panic occurred when I had more than 100 dives. The good thing was that I HAD had an experience in my OW class where I WANTED to bolt and was kept from doing so, so I recognized the fear spiralling up and controlled it. You should be able to do this now, too. Stopping fear before it reaches panic is a critical skill for a diver.

NWGratefulDiver has given you excellent advice, and I'll only add to it to reinforce what Mike said -- Make yourself swim around with a flooded mask from time to time; take your mask off and put it back on; learn to flood and clear without disturbing your buoyancy -- Do all this because you can NEVER predict when somebody might kick a mask off. Almost happened to me the other night while sitting at a stop -- A fin I didn't see coming got me in the face. My mask didn't go, but it could have!

 

[loosebits]

I'll third or fourth that remark.. throughout your diving career, you need to occasionally do a mask remove and replace. It is something you can quickly lose your comfort with.

 

[Twiddles]

I just swam around in the bay for about 5 minutes with it off. You know before you took up Scuba you probably did most of your swimming without a mask =). Isnt it strange how quickly the mask has become, I am blind without it item? I also had same feelings of panic the first 3 or 4 times and it bugged me till I just said the hell with it, Im not going to use it for abit. Worked for me, somehow it was easier to clear when I put it on after being down without it and not NEEDING it so bad.

 

[Guba]

I'm not a diving expert, but I've had a bit of training in handling "emergency" situations. (27 years on fire dept, a couple of decades as a lifeguard and lifeguard trainer, etc...) Your response goes beyond merely practicing a specific skill, though that is a great way of leaning to handle that specific situation. I'm reminded of what pilot instructors tell their trainees all the time about handling an airborn emergency. "1) First, get control of the aircraft 2) Analyze and isolate the problem 3) Execute a carefully thought-out plan of action".
In essence, that's what we're taught as divers. Breath, assess, act (as many other posters pointed out). Somewhere in your response to a flooded mask, your mind should have provided important data. "Okay, my mask is flooded. I'm still breathing, so what should I do next?" Then your training should take over. You could remove the mask, put it back on, and attempt clearing it. You could attempt a slow ascent with a flooded mask. You could attempt to contact your partner and allow him/her to assist with either or both of the above. But above all else, you needed to keep a clear, rational perspective so that you could consciously think about your options. Controlling panic is a state of mind you work on long before an emergency situation pops up. Practicing skills is great; it helps you know what you should do in a situation. But being ready for an emergency means being mentally prepared and cognizant that those situations can crop up anytime and your response should be to get calmer, not more excited.
This was, as you pointed out, a great learning opportunty. Congratulations on the insights you have gained through it. Keep diving, and have fun underwater!

 

[samnewsom]

i just went through the open water test the first part classroom and pool and by far that is my least favorite filling mask half way then all the way then remove for some reason my biggest fear something i know i must work on but hated it everytime i had to do it we did it at the beginning of each pool session

 

[1_T_Submariner]

I too found out this fall that a flooding mask in cold water can create panick. You already have some great advice here by very knowledgeable and experienced divers.

I'll just add Practice, Practice then when you think you have it add some other task at the same time (make sure you have a good buddy or 2 before trying this).

 

[TequilaMockingbird]

Hi guys

Many thanks for the advice.

If I may give some advice to any other beginners who may have a similar experience. After I had surfaced and fixed the problem, I was breathing heavily. But I spent a few minutes at surface until I calmed down and then recontinued the dive. All in all I had a brilliant dive. If I had aborted the dive, I am not sure what my state of mind would have been next time I dived as I would have had more time to dwell on it. So perhaps getting back on the proverbial bike after a fall was a good thing - but perhaps only if you can relax yourself at surface. But I am not sure what the experienced guys would say on that.