OW course confined dives...

[Zoe83]

My husband and I are going on a 4 day, 6 dive PADI open water course in two weeks, and I'm starting to get a bit freaked out about flooding & clearing the mask and switching from regulator to snorkel...I've only been diving twice two years ago, i didnt find it challenging at all but ive lost the feel for it by now. I have been reading some past posts and i will be practising with my snorkel in the pool for mask clearing, but i have a question about switching from regulator to snorkel...it may sound stupid, but do you take the regulator out, replace it with the snorkel, clear it then ascend for air? or do you stay down and switch back to the regulator for air? my husband said staying underwater with the snorkel is impossible but I have no idea about it...that is my main concern. while i have air i wont care as much about having a mask or no mask, but no air is another story!
I know i havent been diving much at all, but I am doing the course to educate myself beacuse i didnt like diving and having to rely on the guide to set my gear up,inflate/deflate me and check my air etc..It will also boost my confidence.
If anyone can answer my question that would be great!

 

[Dochueb]

The switching from regulator to snorkel & back is done at the surface. You breathe throught the reg at the surface, then switch to the snorkel & breathe through that. The hubby is correct, the snorkel won't do you a lot of good at depth...


DH

 

[MoonWrasse]

Yes, if you try breathing thru your snorkel while underwater you might drown

Relax. It will be ok.

 

[spectrum]

My husband and I are going on a 4 day, 6 dive PADI open water course in two weeks, and I'm starting to get a bit freaked out about flooding & clearing the mask and switching from regulator to snorkel...

Relax, you will be doing all of this stuff one step at a time and practicing in the shallows where you can stand right up if you get uncomfortable. Some sensations can seem weird the first time but there's nothing there that you need to worry about, infact mastering these skills will make you safer and more comfortable when you go down deeper.

The snorkel will only be used at the surface. You will remove and recover your regulator as well as breathe off of a buddys safe second, it's an easy skill but can require a tiny leap of faith the first time, again it will be perfected in the shallows first. Before you ever strap a tank you should be shown snorkeling including a duck dive where you surface and blow the tube clear.

Same sort of thing with the mask in the shallows, you will flood and clear the mask, probably starting with a minor flood and progressing. There's no rule that says you need to open your eye's but it's nice to know you can incase you really need to hunt for you mask someday. You will also remove your mask, hand it to your instructor, he should place it firmly back in your hand , you strap it back in place and clear it as above. It's not a race or contest, if you need 2 or 3 blows that's OK, you just need to be able to calmly recover from a flooded or kicked off mask. Not looking up will avoid water up your nose and you can also lightly exhale from your nostrils if that makes you more comforable. It's all a step by step thing leading to a confident and safe diver.

We just finished our pool sessions so this stuff is pretty fresh. Instructor routines will vary but this is the jist of those skills.

Pete

 

[lorien]

First, welcome to diving, you will have a great time! As explained by others here, you will be doing the snorkel/regulator exchange on the surface not at any depth so you will be able to breathe using both the regulator and the snorkel. Just remember to clear both before breathing. This is even started standing in the shallow end of the pool sometimes to give you the feel and make you comfortable then done swimming on the surface with your face in the water. Easy as can be Also remember to not hold your breath during the exchange, always exhale a small stream of air. This will all be gone over in your class as well.
Flooding and clearing the mask are also started in the shallow end of the pool so you can just stand up if you get uncomfortable. Again, this is to get you comfortable with the exercise before you go to the deep end of the pool and then it is the exact same exercise, works the same in 3' of water as it does in 10' (or 60' for that matter). Also, usually you need to clear a partially flooded mask (usually below eye level) first then work up to mask remove and replace so you don't have to do it all at first or on the same day, everything is introduced slowly and step by step. I agree it is nice to open your eyes if you are comfortable enough but nothing says that you have to. I did not open my eyes doing these exercises for months but am now fairly comfortable doing them and have no problem opening my eyes. So do whichever you are most comfortable with, open your eyes if you can but you don't have to. But they do get easier the more your do them as your comfort level increases. Just relax and have fun with it. The instructor will also demonstrate each skill before you try it and they can do it again if you need them to, just ask. Good luck and let us know how much fun you are having once you are certified!

 

[RonFrank]

In our OW checkout dives, the instructor said he had only ONE scare, and that was when a student went to grab his octo, and put the snorkel in his mounth by mistake.

The instructor indicated this is common, but often leads to a bolt to the surface followed by a bit of freaking out! :11:

In this case the student remained calm, and just put his second stage back in his mouth and then completed the switch with the octo a moment later.

Do NOT try and use the snorkel UW. It's for surface use only, and many divers don't even carry a snorkel.

 

[Shasta_man]

... and many divers don't even carry a snorkel.

Except those that know there are usually dolphins to swim with on the way back from the dive site!

As said above, using the snorkel means inserting near or at the surface, then blowing out a breath of air to clear it of water, then you can breath normally, though shallowly initially until you know it's clear of water.

Doing your mask only means taking your time and removing and replacing your mask and breathing out through your nose to clear the mask. Best info is this is not a race. Just calmly take it off and then slowly put it back on your head. Only when back on completely, do you breathe out through your nose to clear it.

Just relax.

 

[ctmax]

Just finished my confined water. I too was worried about mask clearing and reg. exchange. Made it through with no problems even with contacts. Just kept my eyes closed and relaxed. Everything we did started in the shallow end of the pool and moved deeper. We were frequently reminded not to hold our breath and maintain a stream of bubbles. The snorkel - regulator exchange was quite fun after we were told that we were spraying everyone on the deck while clearing the snorkel. It has been said a few times already in the post but can't be said enough, Just Relax.

 

[Zoe83]

Thank you all for your replies, I feel a lot better now! I think I can do all of that. I dive down with my snorkel on and clear it when i get to the surface all the time, its the only way i can get down to see the fishes since i have no dive gear I will be practising the mask taking off & clearing in the pool with my eyes open so i feel a bit more confident on the course as well. I'm really excited now!

 

[spectrum]

Thank you all for your replies, I feel a lot better now! I think I can do all of that. I dive down with my snorkel on and clear it when i get to the surface all the time, its the only way i can get down to see the fishes since i have no dive gear I will be practising the mask taking off & clearing in the pool with my eyes open so i feel a bit more confident on the course as well. I'm really excited now!

Just remember that when drilling mask clearing on a snorkel to watch you position. You will probably want to tip your face upward some and at that point your snorkel opening may be submerged You may need to do inhale, tip up, clear, tip down, inhale a time or two. Wearing some weight so you sit lower in the water will help you keep your face in the water while doing this. Not to worry, just getting accustomed to the wet face and breathing with the snorkel and no mask will set you up nicely. Try some swimming with just the snorkel.

Once you get comfortable with those things it will seem so much easier with the freedom and constant air availabilty of a regulator.

Pete