How far would you take a loved one who wants to become a diver?

[Boarderguy]

That is weird. I fogged my mask more than a locomotive makes smoke. Was expert level at flooding and clearing in 3 warm vacations, and some pool time.

Scubaboard said "spit in it". They were wrong.

Spit works every time but you have to clean the mask when you first get it. Only times I got fogged out were when I used that bottle crap.

 

[MidOH]

Tried that, the lighter, all the scubaboard recs.

Baby shampoo, or Sea Gold anti fog GEL, were the winning solution.

Trick is, don't rinse it all off too well. One quick dunk and swirl. If the mask is still a little soapy, deal with it.

 

[scrane]

Is it all about liability or do instructors actually know more than experienced divers?

Eventually it's all about getting the certification. Personally, I would like to turn over a strong swimmer with good freediving skills.

 

[boulderjohn]

Yes if they can't do that why pay for a course

I had never cleared a mask in my life before I took a scuba course. I learned it easily after that--too easily, in fact. Because it came so easily to me, I did not have to pay a lot of attention to what I was doing.

When I was training to be an instructor, I was taught how to teach clearing a mask. What I was taught to do worked for most of the students, but some students struggled, and with those who were struggling, it usually took me a lot of work to get them to do it well.

After a few years, though, I had it all figured out. I learned exactly what I needed to say about it before demonstrating, and I learned exactly how to demonstrate it. I understood why students were struggling. After that, I don't believe I had a single student have any real trouble learning to do it.

So that is why you pay for a course.

 

[TMHeimer]

Spit works every time but you have to clean the mask when you first get it. Only times I got fogged out were when I used that bottle crap.

Spit doesn't work well for some people. Baby shampoo always works and you can apply it to the mask weeks in advance.

 

[Boarderguy]

Spit doesn't work well for some people. Baby shampoo always works and you can apply it to the mask weeks in advance.

White toothpaste, rub until the lens squeaks, rinse while rubbing lens with thumb until lens squeaks with no toothpaste left in it.

At site splash water, spit, lightly rub spit around, quick splash/rinse, don mask and enjoy fog free diving...

That's my experience. My buddy still swears by his drops.

 

[boulderjohn]

We had a thread a couple years ago in which it was claimed that most modern masks do not need this sort of treatment. The mask I use now is a pretty new Tusa. I did nothing to prepare it, and it never fogs. I use spit before a dive.

 

[Boarderguy]

We had a thread a couple years ago in which it was claimed that most modern masks do not need this sort of treatment. The mask I use now is a pretty new Tusa. I did nothing to prepare it, and it never fogs. I use spit before a dive.

Mine is a Mares X- vision. My wife's Tusa fogged until I did the above treatment. No idea is the mares needed it or not since I did that soon as I opened it.

 

[Gone for diving]

Spit doesn't work well for some people. Baby shampoo always works and you can apply it to the mask weeks in advance.

Maybe some people have better spit...

I never have a problem with spit unless I am it to much of a hurry to do a proper job.

Dry mask, spit in a good size wad, rub it in with your fingers, and cover the whole glass, the a quick swish through the water, put it on your face.

 

[Bloody Marvelous]

If you're not an instructor, why would you want to teach your loved ones? If you're taking uncertified people out diving, you're putting their lives in danger. You're not trained or equipped to spot or handle an emergency. Would you train your loved ones how to skydive?
Take them out snorkeling and get them a book on diving, but if you want them to learn how to dive and you really love them, sign them up for a course and join them in their training.
After that you can teach them underwater photography, fish identification, buoyancy, how to set up and maintain their gear, reef conservation, navigation, night diving, boat diving, drift diving, etc.
Anything that requires actual training and/or certification, leave it to the professionals.