Congrat's. As you said earlier...remember this is a new experience for you, and just like any other sport, you are not going to be "perfect" the first time around. Don't put the pressure on yourself to be perfect, and it will come a lot easier to you.
I think that is key! I am quite a perfectionist in much of what i do.
Ok as for my issue, I have been doing some searching around and have found several good suggestions... I have combinded some and come up with the follow crazy scheme:
First off, I tried part of Walter's idea.. (ie:
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/ne...diving/223091-ideas-taking-your-mask-off.html post #2) but in the bath tub instead. I put my face down in the water without any gear and just held my breath there underwater with eye opened... ok this was working. stayed there until the air bubbles ran out.
Then put snorkle in mouth and did the same process, breathing through snorkle... felt some water seeping into nose. Tucked chin into chest and then blew out 3/4 of exhale through nose, then rest through snorkle. ok water was leaving nose ... tried a few more times and got most of water from nose.
Tried process again with mask on but did not use strap. duh no problems. Then I filled mask with water and just stayed like that for a while. Ok this too is ok. So then i let mask fall off to the bottom of the tub and immediately tuck chin into chest and blew out of nose the same as before... repeated nose exhales a few times... started to feel better... put mask back on with no strap again and cleared.. created small bit of mask pinch when i raised head... ok with that at the moment.. it actually helped me finished clearing nose water... k, then took care of mask pinch all was good again. :>
Did this repeatedly.. and now almost think I could do it in a public place without hacking and coughing. <grin>
Will try same process in a pool next. Then will try swimming with no mask across the pool and back and then replace mask... will let you know how that works out.