Trouble Breathing W/out Mask

[dark_basic]

It's done. I'm finally certified! I went on my first four dives at Alki beach in Puget Sound, WA. It was a little nippy - 52 degrees. On the first dive the instructor took us down and we were kneeling on the bottom in about 29 feet of water. We went through the skills we had practiced in the pool and finally mask removal came up. I pulled off my mask no sweat but then I tried breathing and just couldn't. It was like someone had put plastic wrap on my mouth. My lungs were burning and I knew I had to figure things out fast because there was no way I was kicking to the surface, problems underwater have to be fixed underwater. Anyways, I pinched my nose and eventually I could squeeze a few short breaths in until I could get my mask on and clear it.

This hadn't been a problem for me in the pool and I think it was due to the cold water. I assume my nose was so shocked by the cold that my body just wouldn't let me breathe. On the next dive I put my face in the water on and off for a good ten minutes getting adjusted to the cold. That didn't help much at all. The instructor signaled for me to flood and clear my mask one last time. I breathed in a ton of water and wanted to kick to the surface but stuck with it and got it over with.

Sure, it's over and probably won't happen for a long time; but this really bothers me. I am starting AOW as soon as I get to college and this cannot be a problem for me. Does anyone have any suggestions/solutions/comments about this?


Danke,
Collin

 

[jeckyll]

Collin: From what I've seen, this is a common problem in cold water.
And 52 isn't even that cold yet, it's worse in 44 degree water, I assure you

My advice would be to start slow, flood your mask partially, get comfortable clearing it. Repeat. Start using more and more water to flood your mask. Get to the point where you fully flood your mask. Then get to the point where you totally flood it and take it off. Take your time, don't rush it.

It's always a bit of a shock with the cold water and certainly not a favourite thing of mine, but getting to point where you can deal effectively with a completely flooded / missing mask is important.

It also helps to be in the water with someone who's skills you trust while you are practicing.

Best of luck

Bjorn

 

[dark_basic]

Bjorn,

Thanks for the advice. Do you think by doing this my body will get so accustomed to it that it will not be shocked by the cold water eventually even without acclimitization? Many thanks.

Collin

 

[Crowley]

It's common even in the lovely warm water over here, although cold water tends to exacerbate the feeling - it's not a natural thing and therefore can take some practice getting used to. It may help to tilt your head to one side so your bubbles don't stick in your nose, but the best way to overcome it is to practice practice practice!

Good luck!

C

 

[SparticleBrane]

Before each dive, dunk your face in the water and breathe from your regs, eyes open, no mask. Force yourself to do the first few breaths and then you'll slowly get used to it and relax. Works great and you won't have any no-mask issues if you do this on a continual basis.

 

[chrispete]

You did just fine. It's the same reflex that everyone has when they get hit with anything cold (air, water, anything.) You kept your head on straight and finished the exercise. Good job.

 

[jeckyll]

Collin: IMO, it's the kind of thing you just have to get used to. I still get a bit of an 'ice cream headache' at first. I also have to admit that I don't practice this much. I simply don't like it.

I know I can do it when I have to, but it's just not enjoyable. I find that I need to "cheat" a little and hold my nose just for a second to get over the initial shock of the cold water. Then relax and I'm good to go.

As for practice, try what Sparticle suggested. But I'd actually start a step earlier. Just sitting on the couch, open you mouth and breath through it. Then, mouth still open, again through your nose. Back and forth. This is just to realize that you have control over how you breath.

Above water, below, doesn't matter. Once that sinks into your brain, you are ok.

As for bubble in up the nose, if you are in trim position, the bubbles don't go in your nose I personally am not a huge fan of kneeling on the bottom (after all, what are the chances you'll need to do this for real while you just _happen_ to be kneeling on the bottom), but you may need to start there.

One final trick: Pull the mask of as you are breathing out. Many people have a tendency to breath in when the cold water first hits their face (or at least to hold their breath). Breathing out may help you defeat this effect and keep you more relaxed.

Best of luck!

Bjorn

 

[DennisW]

Just another one of those reasons to dive warm.

Sorry, I just couldn't resist. You guys have all my respect for diving in water that I won't even put my toe into.

 

[CenTexDivin]

I used to have an issue with this. My instructor simply told me to take my mask off at the surface and dunk my head underwater for a moment, so that I become acclimated to the water and got used to the water on my face.

 

[TSandM]

This is really a critical skill, in my opinion, because mask problems are so common, so I think it's something you really have to work through.

A friend of mine had significant issues with flooded mask and cold water. His mentor took him through it this way: Stand in waist-deep water. Put your regulator in your mouth, and put your head in the water as though you were snorkelling. If you have problems, all you have to do is stand up straight and your face is out of the water, so there's no panic. Keep this up until you can breathe calmly and easily the moment you put your face in the water. Then repeat the process with your mask on and flooded, and then clear your mask. Then you can try the whole thing again with your whole head underwater, but still so shallow that you can stand up to stop the drill if your anxiety gets too much for you.

I really think that, for us cold water divers, this skill is even more important than it is in the tropics, because if you get a mask kicked off you here and that icy water hits your face suddenly and unexpectedly, you really need to have it not bother you, and I think for a lot of people, that takes work.

This reminds me -- I'm doing skills tomorrow, and should practice mask remove and replace, because I haven't done it in a while. Like jeckyll, I don't like it, so I don't do it as often as I ought.