A couple of tips suggest themselves Nathan:nobscure once bubbled...
Yeah, I was actually using a large volume mask
yes, it was on tight.
1. Get a small volume mask. They are beneficial in several respects... one of which is that they require less equalization and are easier to equilize when you do. The second is that they are much easier to clear of water.
2. Keep your strap fairly loose and your mask is less likely to squeeze and also less likely to leak! The seal on the mask needs to have some play in order for it to fit the contours of your face... if you crank it down tight in an attempt to keep it from leaking.. it will leak for sure! Plus there will not be any flex left to compensate for compression and your eyes will need to fill the void