New and not doing well

[downdeep]

Females are typically nose breathers. I believe that is the reason that this skill is typically difficult for us. Don't be discouraged. You can do it.

Try a different mask.

 

[tstormdiver]

I had lots of trouble learning this skill also. I am a nose breather & at one time I inhaled enough water through my nose that it started a rather nasty sinus infection (not fun). I know it can be discouraging & you've heard it a million times, but keep trying. I found that if I keep exhaling, even a small stream of bubbles that it generally help prevent the water from going the wrong way. It takes a bit of a trick, tough to do it while also inhaling from the mouth, but it can be done. I wish you the best of luck.

 

[aquababe66]

AnnaL... I can totally relate. My first pool session was NOT fun. The first obstacle was breathing through my mouth instead of my nose. The next obstacle was mask clearing. I snorted so much pool water that day I swear I could smell chlorine for the next week. What finally figured out after talking to my boyfriend who is also an assistant instructor (and had the same problem when he first started so he could relate) was that I was wearing my mask too high on my face so when I blew out my nose to clear the mask, the air was blowing right out the bottom of the mask instead of staying in the mask, displacing the water. The next time in the pool I wore my mask lower to I had room between my nose and the bottom of the mask. I filled the mask with water, pressed on the top of the mask and blew out my nose. It was amazing!!! the water actually left the mask.... I did it!!!! It was an awesome feeling. Since then I haven't had a problem. I also have switched to a purge mask which helps if you are a nose breather.

I hope this helps. Good luck to you and let me know if this works for you.

Diane

 

[dendya]

AnnaL

I see a lot of good advice here. I hated clearing my mask...in fact it is not really a fun thing when I do it now. Water up the nose really sucks and I don't like water in my eyes much either.

Get yourself in a "zone" of relaxation, focus on breathing, fill your lungs (with air hee hee), close your eyes, pop your mask, keeping breathing normally with eyes closed and mask flooded. Tip your head back, put your fingers at several places across the top of your mask and breathe out normally through your nose. Take another breath from your reg if you want to. Don't worry about getting it done quickly. You can let the mask rest back on your face and breathe out through your nose without more water coming in too. Sometimes I find myself breathing in through my mouth and out through my mask, especially when I am cold. Weird, eh?

Another thing that might help is kissing the water good morning. My instructor always had us dunk our face in the water before donning the mask. Saves you from the shock of the cold water when you flood the mask.

Keep with it, take breaks, have fun, laugh....

 

[trigfunctions]

Lots of good advice in this thread, but in the big picture, just remember that most people ahve trouble with one skill or another and that you are not unusual inthat respect. Mask clearing is a skill you can learn with practice. Don't let this one issue scare you away from diving because you can learn it with enough patience and practice! It will all be worth it!

 

[beezwax]

I was helping with the confined water sessions of an OW class a couple weeks ago-- one tip that I noticed helped a few of the people was to begin exhaling through your nose before you tip your head back (much more likely that water will run up your nose if you tilt your head first). Also you don't need to tilt your head back very far, too far and the bubbles might blow right out rather than rising up through the mask and forcing the water out. I've never used a purge mask but they look pretty slick and avoid all these tilting issues-- try one out, it might be just the thing for you. Good luck and don't get discouraged-- some people are scuba naturals, most are not.

 

[Super]

Hi AnnaL and welcome,

The problem I had when I was first learning this skill was noticed by a sharp teaching assistant. I was actually blowing air out through the regulator at the same time I was trying to blow air through my nose into the mask to clear it. Needless to say, the mask would only clear out about half way and things then went from bad to worse.

You've gotten some great advise from your fellow SB'ers. Next time, try to relax and pay a little closer attention to all the little things going on and you'll soon figure it out. Good luck and have fun.

 

[TSandM]

AnnaL, you might enjoy reading the journal of my open water class (link below). I didn't have trouble with mask clearing in the class, because I had practiced it in my pool at home, but I had a LOT of trouble when I first started playing with the skill. I've heard instructors say that mask skills are the ones MOST likely to produce trouble with new students. So you aren't alone at all!

If you do a search on this board, you will find many threads dealing with this issue, and lots of extremely good advice for how to address it.

Don't give up -- the rewards are worth it!

 

[Seraphimx]

I have seen many many people do one technique i think everyone does ....except me.

I take my two hands lift the lower part of the mask and breath out air.
The aire replace the water...thats it

Most of the diver press the upper part and exhale strongly with their nose. I tried while having a cold and it hurts because you have to put more pressure with this way.

If you have problem with breathing with your mouth only...practice

take a snorkel, take a bath or go in your pool and try breathing without the mask. Practice and youll get better.

dont worry about your teacher.

 

[1_T_Submariner]

Welcome to Scubaboard....Sounds like the instructor was either having a bad day or doesn't have the right attitude for teaching?

Good luck to you looks like you have plenty of suggestions.