Tips needed - Difficulty breathing without mask on.....

[Swede]

Hi,

I am now doing my OW course here in Sweden, first two poolsessions done, one to go, and then the OW-dives. During the poolsessions and exercises, I have discovered that it is very difficult for me to breath (mostly breathing out through the nose) underwater when I take my mask off. It must have something to do with a built-in reflex, I guess. I have even tried to practice in warm water in the bathtub at home , breathing through the snorkel without a mask, and it is the same.
I can do the course excercises, clearing a filled mask, taking the mask off for a minute etc, but I do not feel comfortable while doing it and feel the stresslevel coming up a bit as I have to force exhaling.

Tips anyone? Good excercises? Anyone had the same experience?
Will any excercises/practise help in this case or will it be like this, what do you think?

/ Lars

 

[lowviz]

This is difficult for some people and easy for others. What you describe is not unusual.

Maybe read this thread: How to inhale with mouth only

 

[tbone1004]

best exercises are what you're doing with the snorkel in shallow water. Just keep at it

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

Remember that your nose is useless underwater except for exhaling.

Try this:
Flood your mask halfway and breathe for 5 cycles.
Then flood your mask completely but leave it on and breathe for as many cycles as needed to get calm and just breathe.
Then while you’re breathing pull your mask off and continue to breathe with no mask. You’ll find there is no physical difference between breathing with a fully flooded mask and no mask, at that point it’s entirely psychological.
If you continue to have difficulty with the sensation of locking up and not being able to mouth breath with your nose exposed to water, then close your eyes and plug your nose and continue to breathe with no mask.
Try to concentrate on control. Your nose and eyes are now out of the equation so you can concentrate on smoothing your breathing. Slowly unplug your nose and continue to breathe, then as you get comfortable open your eyes.
Eventually you’ll get it.
Strong human instinct tells us that when out face is underwater we are not supposed to breathe. It goes against every natural human instinct to mouth breath underwater with your nose exposed. This reaction has to be short circuited and overcome.

When I DM’d for classes I was the one assigned to work with students who had problems with no mask breathing. These techniques work.

 

[guruboy]

I'm not sure I understand your problem. As long as you are not inhaling through the nose, you are fine. I almost always breathe in and out with my mouth.

There is no requirement to exhale from nose exceed to prevent mask squeeze and to do a mask clear.

 

[kmarks]

I can't snorkel without something to block my nose. I remember my aunt telling me when I was a kid that I just needed to stop breathing through my nose and use the snorkel and I would be fine (like I was a complete moron who didn't know how breathing worked). A few feet underwater, with a scuba regulator, and I have the same problem. But if I hold my nose for just a breath or two, I can let go and be fine after that, and at a depth of 10+ feet, I have no issues. Maybe it's something about the pressure, but when I breathe in through my mouth, I pull in just a little bit of water through my nose at the same time if it's shallow.

Even understanding the physiology of the nose and throat, I can't force the muscles to go where I want them to and block my nose while allowing air in from my mouth.

 

[Magnus Lundstedt]

Välkommen till dykningens underbara värld, Jag är övertygad om att du kommer lösa det här problemet med träning, det handlar mest om att bli van och bekväm med att andas under vattnet.

Var i landet håller du till?

 

[Swede]

Thanks for your tips and advise, guess I'll keep working on it until it works then. Good to know I'm not the first to experience this problem.

Looking forward to my first open water dives this weekend, in water around 1-2 Celcius

 

[Swede]

Välkommen till dykningens underbara värld, Jag är övertygad om att du kommer lösa det här problemet med träning, det handlar mest om att bli van och bekväm med att andas under vattnet.

Var i landet håller du till?

Hej och tack.
Bor i gränslandet mellan Halland och Småland, men går kursen hos Oxygene i Göteborg. Blir lite åkande, men så är det när man bor i skogen......

 

[Jim Lapenta]

If you are not comfortable do not do the open water dives. Especially in water that cold. It will be like getting smacked in the face. Hard. Insist on more pool time until you are comfortable and are allowed to get acclimated to cold water. Fill your sink up at home and then add some ice. Let it get good and cold. Then put your face in it and see how you react. If you've noted this issue with the instructor and they are still taking you on your dives, find another instructor.