snorkelling, not SCUBA, but still need some advice

[kidspot]

I clear my mask while snorkeling by pressing the top of the mask to my forhead, looking up and exhaling through my nose - works as well on the surface as it does at depth for me, it's just that at the surface part of my mask is out of the water. - hope that helps.

 

[DandyDon]

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

With your hair? On your forehead - what we Yanks call "bangs," and you Brits call "fringe"...? Should not be in the way; push the hair out of the mask.

Or if it that your long hair pulls the strap enough to dislodge the mask? If so, tighten your mask strap and/or wear a swim cap - which would also help with cold water exposure.

I snorkeled for years before Scuba, then did several snorkel dives last week on a family trip, and I've never had this problem. Good fitting mask, snug strap and/or swim cap, and practice...

 

[Seabear70]

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?

As for heavy set...

I weigh in at about 280 lbs, I'm 5'9" and I don't even want to know my BMI... I sink like a stone, and I do not look like anyone's Idea of a body builder.

 

[DandyDon]

As for heavy set...

I weigh in at about 280 lbs, I'm 5'9" and I don't even want to know my BMI... I sink like a stone, and I do not look like anyone's Idea of a body builder.

Really?! I stand corrected in my general assumption... :11ztongue

 

[jbd]

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

I wouldn't consider it failing. Just a temporary set back in your case. It shouldn't take too much work to get your BMI under 30 since you are almost there.

I say go for it. when you've lost whatever weight you need to then go back to the Doc and get in to the scuba class.

BTW what does the PADI program cost over there in lbs Sterling?

 

[tiny_clanger]

PADI OW seems to cost around £350 here - about $630. BSAC costs around £150 ($275 approx) for Ocean Diver

anyway - I have no money now to do anything other that snorkeling My BMI is now under, but so is my bank balance

 

[bdrannik]

Uhm... Try this..

a) First - get vertical in the water, vs "floating horizontal on top".. You may float vertically with your eyes/ears/forehead at water level.. No need to kick to get your head completely out of the water (you are breathing thru the snorkel).

b) Using your hands, press in against the top edge of your mask while exhaling out thru your nose. Since you are holding the top of the mask against your face, the only place the outward pressure can break the seal is at your cheeks beside your nose.. So, when you exhale the water should exit out the bottom of the mask..

 

[wacdiver]

Another tip no has mentioned yet is to take a big deep breath in (your lungs will fill with air and you will be more boyant and should float a bit higher in the water we do this in SCUBA to regulate boyancy at depth it will work on the surface too) while you are holdnig you breath (which we don't do at depth) do as other have suggested hold the top of you mask and then blow out your nose the water should go out the bottom of you mask. OR you can do the ol cheat method get verticle hold in breath lift/tilt back you head just enough to get the mask out of the water and break the seal by lifting the bottom of your mask away from your face just enough to let the water flow out , let go and put your head back in the water and oh yeah breath again PS don't breath when you are tilting your head back as the tip of your snorkel will probably be in the water and then it just becomes a big ol salt water straw
Question?? do you have a mustach or facial hair? if so this could be the problem I am constantly clearing my mask becaus of the facial hair doesn't allow a perfect seal

 

[geraldp]

Question?? do you have a mustach or facial hair? if so this could be the problem I am constantly clearing my mask becaus of the facial hair doesn't allow a perfect seal

Dude: before insulting someone read their profile to see if they are male/female before asking if they have facial hair or a mustache.

 

[tiny_clanger]

lol, I wax

No seriously - I dont have facial hair, but I'm not insulted (that much!!)

Anway - Thank you - IT WORKS, I managed to do it witht he "push on front of mask and exhale thing" And I saw a fantastic flatfish, hermit crabs, loads of fishies. OK, so nothing compared to what you lot must see in the depths, but I was pretty chuffed