Do you keep your eyes open when your mask is off under water?

piikki · Jul 21, 2009

Or do you find it hard to keep your eyes open under water?

redacted · Jul 21, 2009

Yes..

NJ to FLA · Jul 21, 2009

I've got contacts so I'll be pretty much blind if I lose them in the water!

piikki · Jul 21, 2009

NJ to FLA:
I've got contacts so I'll be pretty much blind if I lose them in the water!

That's certainly one condition when I understand closing eyes (I am master of losing contacts in shower). However, I am surprised hearing how many people say they have very hard time opening their eyes in water. I am way more worried closing them in case of lost mask - and I am pretty blind bat without my mask. It still helps to keep eyes open. I do hate it in <45F though.

Teamcasa · Jul 21, 2009

I have no issue opening my eyes underwater. Sea or pool.

gypsyjim · Jul 21, 2009

I never stopped to think that anyone would have an issue with opening their eyes underwater. As kids we all swam underwater, and dived for objects.
When I did my Y cert in '70 one of the training drills was to have ALL of your gear dumped into the pool, and you dived in, collected the gear, donning it as you went, and were not allowed to surface till the job was completed. Could not do that with my eyes closed!

piikki · Jul 21, 2009

gypsyjim:
I never stopped to think that anyone would have an issue with opening their eyes underwater. As kids we all swam underwater, and dived for objects.

This is what I grew up doing too - the short summers we had. However, I remember clearly the kids that were forced into water by their parents and tippytoed around chin up, terrified of water splashing on their faces. I wouldn't think they never took up diving though

MaxBottomtime · Jul 21, 2009

I had the same type of training as gypsyjim. I had to open my eyes under water to find gear. That was a long time ago, though. I haven't had my mask off under water in twenty years.

Byte Me · Jul 21, 2009

Pre-LASIK my contacts prevented me from opening my eyes. Post LASIK I open them all the time! It's tough to get used to though...Kinda like wearing your dry suit the first few times after diving wet for a while and having to remember it's NOT OK to pee in the drysuit! I sometimes find myself having to remind me to open them and that it's OK.

OldNSalty · Jul 21, 2009

I have no problem opening eyes except that I dive with contacts. In all the years I've only lost one once and then I figured the vis had just gone to hell. Wasn't till I was on the boat that I realized 1 was gone.

Do you keep your eyes open when your mask is off under water?