At the moment im training to do a padi open water and i am having some trouble with the mask clearing. Every time i put the water in my mask and i go to clear it, the water goes up my nose which i can't stand. Has anyone got any tips?
Water in my mask
- Thread starter mikey6879
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Does the water go in your nose immediately when you flood your mask? Or when you tilt your head back to clear? Or when you put the mask back on?
If it's the former, then you're probably the type who can't help but breath through your nose.
Try consciously to breath through your mouth and out your nose. At the very least create a little pressure by exhaling lightly from the nose. This should keep most of the water out.
You can always practice breathing through your mouth exclusively on dry land as practice.
With the latter two (see above) it's just a normal thing that happens. If you have water in your mask and you go to put it back on, I always find that the suction of the mask pushes any water up your nose. Once again, just exhale lightly to keep any water out. You don't have to be blowing bubbles out your nose, but a little back pressure helps to keep the water out.
In general for me, I always have to breath out of my nose when I'm maskless. It makes me feel comfortable in not getting any water in my nose.
Hope this helps.
If it's the former, then you're probably the type who can't help but breath through your nose.
Try consciously to breath through your mouth and out your nose. At the very least create a little pressure by exhaling lightly from the nose. This should keep most of the water out.
You can always practice breathing through your mouth exclusively on dry land as practice.
With the latter two (see above) it's just a normal thing that happens. If you have water in your mask and you go to put it back on, I always find that the suction of the mask pushes any water up your nose. Once again, just exhale lightly to keep any water out. You don't have to be blowing bubbles out your nose, but a little back pressure helps to keep the water out.
In general for me, I always have to breath out of my nose when I'm maskless. It makes me feel comfortable in not getting any water in my nose.
Hope this helps.
DevonDiver
N/A
You are elevating your head too early in the clearing process. It's a common mistake.
Most divers are taught to look up and blow out through their nose. It isn't the 'optimal' way to perform the drill and enables water to flow into the nose if you break the exhale.
It's the orientation of the nose that allows water entry... if you look upwards, it allows water to flow in. On a mask clear, the only thing stopping/minimizing that water entry is the pressure of air coming out of your nose. Look horizontally and water doesn't enter. It's magic!
You only need to 'look up' at the end of the process to help clear out the last dregs of water that would otherwise be pooled in the bottom of your mask.
Start the process by looking horizontally. Hold the top of your mask against your face and begin with a long, continual exhalation from your nose. Only as you near the end of your exhalation should you slowly begin to look upwards.
This will prevent the water running down your nose.
Most divers are taught to look up and blow out through their nose. It isn't the 'optimal' way to perform the drill and enables water to flow into the nose if you break the exhale.
It's the orientation of the nose that allows water entry... if you look upwards, it allows water to flow in. On a mask clear, the only thing stopping/minimizing that water entry is the pressure of air coming out of your nose. Look horizontally and water doesn't enter. It's magic!
You only need to 'look up' at the end of the process to help clear out the last dregs of water that would otherwise be pooled in the bottom of your mask.
Start the process by looking horizontally. Hold the top of your mask against your face and begin with a long, continual exhalation from your nose. Only as you near the end of your exhalation should you slowly begin to look upwards.
This will prevent the water running down your nose.
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Barring a physical issue, what Andy said is probably the case. Don't start to tilt your head back until *after* you are exhaling through your nose. He says to start clearing while looking horizontally, but even starting with your head down (chin to breast) is possible if you're still having trouble with it while looking horizontally.
R..
R..
DevonDiver
N/A
Think about it.... that's the same thing
If the head is upright, water doesn't go down the nose. (i.e. vertical when kneeling, or arched neck when you are swimming horizontally).
Basically, if the nose is upright, water won't run it. If the nose is tilted back.. water goes in.
You only tilt the head backwards when there is no water to run in; i.e. when the mask is already 95% empty.
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Skarn
Registered
Yep, bottom line is to start your exhale through the nose prior to lifting the mask...keep exhaling until the mask is back in place.
Good luck!
Skarn
Good luck!
Skarn
I always teach students to start clearing by looking down. In fact, this is the way we were taught to teach - I was told at the time that looking down should be a recommended part of the exercise, although not a standard
look down, begin exhaling, look up smoothly to the surface, job done. Works every time.
To the OP - can you breath comfortably through a regulator underwater with the mask off? Do you struggle any time there is water in your mask? There are physical issues which can prevent a person in haling through their mouth without also inhaling through their nose slightly; I've trained a few people like this but it is relatively uncommon. If you are unable to prevent water entering your nose at all, this may be the case.
99% of the time, the problem with mask clearing is down to technique. Give it a whirl.
Cheers
C.
look down, begin exhaling, look up smoothly to the surface, job done. Works every time.
To the OP - can you breath comfortably through a regulator underwater with the mask off? Do you struggle any time there is water in your mask? There are physical issues which can prevent a person in haling through their mouth without also inhaling through their nose slightly; I've trained a few people like this but it is relatively uncommon. If you are unable to prevent water entering your nose at all, this may be the case.
99% of the time, the problem with mask clearing is down to technique. Give it a whirl.
Cheers
C.
dmcutter
Contributor
As silly as this sounds, I had big problems when I first started learning the clearing because I was trying to breathe in through the reg at the same time as I was trying to blow out through my nose. I always ended up sucking water up through my nose.
robint
Contributor
most people have this issue, especially if they are "nose breathers" like me. You will get over it and will not even think about it anymore, you will just do it. I have a narrow face, so most masks don't fit me well. I have been through so many in past 10+ years and basically I have just learned to clear my mask often on a dive. Once you get it down, it is NO BIGGY. Hang in there!
robin
robin
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