snorkelling, not SCUBA, but still need some advice

[tiny_clanger]

Hiya.
I'm not actually a SCUBA diver, I failed the BMI (30.2 ) and didnt want to pay for a referral with no guarantee I'd pass!

Anyway - before I failed, I bought a mask, snorkel and fins ready for the course. i thought I'd try them out the other day, had a great time, except when my mask got some water in it. Now I know you can mask clear with SCUBA, but can you do it snorkelling? If so, how?

 

[Leni]

lifting your head out of the water, and tiping the water out?? I supose you could dive down and clear it the same way as you would if you were scuba diving?
Bit of water wont matter that much, a) your swimming in it b) stops it from fogging up

 

[jbd]

Hiya.
I'm not actually a SCUBA diver, I failed the BMI (30.2 ) and didnt want to pay for a referral with no guarantee I'd pass!

Anyway - before I failed, I bought a mask, snorkel and fins ready for the course. i thought I'd try them out the other day, had a great time, except when my mask got some water in it. Now I know you can mask clear with SCUBA, but can you do it snorkelling? If so, how?

By BMI do you mean Body Mass Index?

As for clearing the mask, simply gently press the upper part of the mask against your forehead and then exhale through your nose.

 

[tiny_clanger]

By BMI do you mean Body Mass Index?

yup - 30.2 and the maximum you can be and the doctor can clear you is 30. She wouldnt change it down to be 29.9, which seemed a tad unfair as .3 over isnt going to kill me, esp as I am fairly fit, just largue

 

[Leni]

like the England rugby team, they are all clinically obease (spelling?) and they are super duper fit at the same time! :11:

 

[Deb In Venice]

By BMI do you mean Body Mass Index?

yup - 30.2 and the maximum you can be and the doctor can clear you is 30. She wouldnt change it down to be 29.9, which seemed a tad unfair as .3 over isnt going to kill me, esp as I am fairly fit, just largue

May I ask where you are located? I'm very new to Scuba, In fact I'm going through my medical clearance tests now but BMI has not been a factor. If it were, I think there would quite a few less divers in the world.

 

[CathyS]

yup - 30.2 and the maximum you can be and the doctor can clear you is 30. She wouldnt change it down to be 29.9, which seemed a tad unfair as .3 over isnt going to kill me, esp as I am fairly fit, just largue

Interesting, I've never heard there's a rule about not having a BMI over 30 in order to SCUBA dive. My BMI is well over 30 and I was just certified this past week (PADI OW). Hmmmm.

 

[tiny_clanger]

it's the BSAC rules. I'm British, and I cant afford PADI's rates, so I was going with BSAC. Edit - I have tried the "sticking your head out of the water" but normally end up floundering around getting cold and making a fool of myself whilst swallowing seawater. Just looking for a more elegant solution

 

[DandyDon]

I have tried the "sticking your head out of the water" but normally end up floundering around getting cold and making a fool of myself whilst swallowing seawater. Just looking for a more elegant solution

Practice, practice, practice...!

Look, if you're heavy set, you should float pretty easily. Holding your head out of the water might take some kicking of your fins, and you would find this easier to accomplish swimming backwards so your mask can be out without your whole head, but it's not that difficult.

Yet, does your mask really fit. If you press it to your face, does it attach with suction - or leak?

 

[tiny_clanger]

it fits, i just find I break the seal a lot with my hair without realising it until water starts coming in