Mask Issues...Frustrated

[mithril]

My husband and I are at the end of our cert course and going for cert in a few weeks. He has done everything perfectly so far, frustrating for me. I am having problems with mask purging. I can do it at 4 feet, but when I go to the deep end I panic. I have been able to get through everything else just fine and enjoy it. I am hoping I can find some advice here or ideas to ttry along with practice.

 

[Marek K]

My husband and I are at the end of our cert course and going for cert in a few weeks. He has done everything perfectly so far, frustrating for me. I am having problems with mask purging. I can do it at 4 feet, but when I go to the deep end I panic. I have been able to get through everything else just fine and enjoy it. I am hoping I can find some advice here or ideas to ttry along with practice.

Hi, and welcome!!

Everyone's got a slightly different technique, I think. What's important is to make sure the air you blow out through your nose to displace the water doesn't go out through the top of the mask -- but that it forces the water out the bottom.

It's not really necessary to pull the mask's skirt away from your face at the bottom; as long as the air has nowhere else to go, the water will be forced out at the bottom past the skirt.

What works for me is to use both hands -- I think I feel I have better control that way. I hold the mask on both sides between thumbs and index fingers, and sort of "tilt" the mask upward a bit -- just enough to put pressure against my forehead. Then just normal exhaling through my nose forces the water out the bottom.

Some folks suggest a mask with a purge valve to help if someone has problems; others see a purge as an unnecessary crutch and a potential failure point... Think about that!:11:

Um, unless the issue for you isn't the purging, but the very act of flooding your mask intentionally in order to practice clearing it? If so, then I know how you feel -- there's always an element of "OK, here goes nothing!" in that... What's important there is to be able to control your breathing... in vs. out, mouth vs. nose. It doesn't come naturally, like a lot of things about scuba. Takes practice. At first, just peel your mask skirt back a little bit to let in a trickle of water (I know, the problem is that it hits your nose first!)... then increase how much water you let in as you feel comfortable. You have more than enough air in your lungs with each breath for several complete mask clearings.

Mask removal and donning just adds the extra step of removing your mask with a flourish!

Let us know how it goes...

--Marek

 

[DennisW]

You actually do not need to hold the mask away from your face at all. You can clear your mask by looking up until you see the surface of the water (this is important for beginners) and pushing with your hand on the top of your mask. Breath out through your nose until the mask clears. If you practice this and get comfortable, try to see how many times you can flood and clear your mask on one breath.

Do this in the shallow end of the pool with just your mask and a weight belt. If you have problems, you can just stand up. This is very good skill to practice. I have had divers descend on top of me and kick my mask off my face.

 

[Stirling]

My husband and I are at the end of our cert course and going for cert in a few weeks. He has done everything perfectly so far, frustrating for me. I am having problems with mask purging. I can do it at 4 feet, but when I go to the deep end I panic. I have been able to get through everything else just fine and enjoy it. I am hoping I can find some advice here or ideas to ttry along with practice.

I think you may need to provide some more information about exactly what happens in the deep end that is different from what happens in four feet of water. If your mask clearing technique is correct and is working in four feet of water, there is no reason in the world why the same technique shouldn't work in deeper water. It's the same water in the same pool, after all, and the water doesn't know how deep it is - only you know that.

So - are you doing something differently or forgetting to do something because you're nervous about the deeper water, or what? If you are sure that you're clearing your mask correctly in shallower water, it might help to practice it a lot in the shallow water until the skill is really automatic for you, so you can focus on controlling your anxiety in the deep end. Once the skill is automatic, the deeper water shouldn't make any difference to you - all you have to do is focus on repeating *exactly* what works in the shallow water.

But if you are just uncomfortable because of the deeper water, that may be the thing you need to work on, maybe by doing something else (swimming, practicing buoyancy control or other skills) a little more in the deeper water until that anxiety goes away.

 

[The Chairman]

Don't focus on the mask!

You will be able to do this fine, ONCE you learn to swim around without your mask. Ask your instructor to allow you and hubby to let you swim around with you holding your mask in your hand. WHEN you feel completely comfortable, stop and put your mask on press on the top of the mask, look up and be sure to blow GENTLY. The best purge will only fill the mask with air and not waste any. I can usually clear my mask 6-10 times on a single breath.

Also, be sure the mask actually FITS you. Out of the pool, with the strap going across the front of the mask, look straight up in the air. Now, gently place the mask on your face and take away your hands. a gentle inhalation with your nose whould seat the mask to your face.

 

[Doc Intrepid]

Agree with Pete. It's an issue of mind over matter - that is, you getting to a place where you don't mind and it don't matter! Try going to the shallow end of the pool with your husband and submerging without your mask on. Keep your eyes open. Exhale out your nose. Count your fingers. Play sissors/rock/paper. Take a slate down and play tic tac toe with each other. Take a plastic milk jug down and try to drop plastic clothes pins into it. Anything but focus on the "oh jeez, I'm underwater with no mask on".

When you can swim around and look at things through the blur and really not mind the sensation of being down there with no mask on, then clearing your mask will become a minor inconvenience instead of some psychological barrier. Give it a shot.

FWIW.

 

[H2Andy]

tripple ditto

it's in your head. if you can do it at 4 feet, you can do it at 40.

also, the water in your mask will be displaced by air, not by tilting, so you don't
have to tilt your head (i don't like the feel of water going up my nose)

all you have to do is push on the top of the mask with both hands to break
the "seal" around your nose and cheeks, and blow out with your nose. the air
will take care of the rest!

i would get real comfortable, like Pete said, with swimming around without your mask.
then, practice clearing your mask. you'll get there

 

[mithril]

It only happens in the deep end. i panic and cannot seem to focus on getting the mask on and breathing at the same time. last week I wanted to bolt up because I lost control and freaked. I know BAD choice. I have tried the bath tub thing now I will try the w/o mask swimming.

 

[MoonWrasse]

It only happens in the deep end. i panic and cannot seem to focus on getting the mask on and breathing at the same time. last week I wanted to bolt up because I lost control and freaked. I know BAD choice. I have tried the bath tub thing now I will try the w/o mask swimming.

How about trying to do this at an intermediate depth? Get comfortable there and go deeper.

 

[dbg40]

Agree with Pete, learn, learn, learn to dive without a mask. VERY important skill!