Open eyes in cold water 4°C Dangerous?

[batdiver_82]

yeah, I find it really painful as well, which indicates for me: not healthy... But from your experiences it seems that it doesn't cause any serious injuries, so I will keep practicing it, as an uncontrolled ascent would certainly be more harmful than sore eyes...
Thanks for your experiences and yes, I really dont like it either...

 

[Divin'Papaw]

yeah, I find it really painful as well, which indicates for me: not healthy... But from your experiences it seems that it doesn't cause any serious injuries, so I will keep practicing it, as an uncontrolled ascent would certainly be more harmful than sore eyes...
Thanks for your experiences and yes, I really dont like it either...

Best of luck in your practice … From warm South Florida, where 18C it’s about the coldest water I see anymore.

 

[crofrog]

yeah, I find it really painful as well, which indicates for me: not healthy... But from your experiences it seems that it doesn't cause any serious injuries, so I will keep practicing it, as an uncontrolled ascent would certainly be more harmful than sore eyes...
Thanks for your experiences and yes, I really dont like it either..

I got a pretty bad ice cream headache from it one time. That wasn’t pleasant under water either.

 

[USdiver1]

The one PADI skill that I religiously practice every time that I enter the water is a mask removal and replace [normally done at or near the surface]. This I do for several reasons: 1) it helps me to get in tune with my environment, things such as salinity, temperature, turbidity are all important and I prefer knowing what I am to expect if I have a mask malfunction while I am at or near the surface; 2) It helps me to avoid having an unexpected shock to my nerves if I were to have a mask malfunction, I now know what to expect in terms of cold, wet, salty, etc. water so my mind is put at ease.

I've been a certified diver for nearly 48 years now, with two mask malfunctions during those years, so yes, problems can occur and it is best to be prepared beforehand.

 

[steinbil]

I got a pretty bad ice cream headache from it one time. That wasn’t pleasant under water either.

Yup, got that during the no mask swim in my Norwegian winter viking fundies class.



I do feel like it helps a bit to dunk your face in the cold water to habituate before putting the mask on at the start of the dive, though. I usually do a few intervals of increasing length (5-10-15-20 seconds). At least it lessens the cold shock a bit of the first mask removal. Might also make you a bit colder, but I guess you can't win'em all...