Newbie Diver with Mask Concerns

[john844]

You are not alone and many people have issues with mask clearing, my wife was one of them. I will try to explain the steps we used to help my wife with this same issue. She was able to work them out with a little time and practice. These are the progressive steps we used for her. Work on each step and get comfortable with that skill before moving onto the next one.

1. Sitting on dry land, inhale through mouth, exhale through nose while keeping your mouth open. You have to use your tongue to close off the airway to keep the air from coming back out of your mouth. Press it tightly to the roof of your mouth to get a good seal.
2. Add snorkel and repeat step 1.
3. Add Mask and repeat step 2.
4. In shallow water (we used our hot tub) work on step 2. Inhale through snorkel and blow bubbles out through your nose.
5. Add Mask and repeat step 4.
6. Now you have the ability to exhale through mask and should be able to expel the water in it. My wife still struggled with this part though.
7. Start with only about an inch of water in mask. When you start your exhale, it helps keep water out of the nose if you are still looking down. If you turn your head back quickly and don't exhale, some of the water tends to trickle into your nose. Don't worry if it takes multiple breaths to fully clear the mask. Start the exhale looking down and tilt the head back while still exhaling. Use your fingers to gently keep the top of the mask sealed on your forehead while exhaling.
8. You should now be able to fully flood the mask and clear it using your new skills. Remember to start each exhale looking down until you are completely comfortable. It will probably take multiple exhales to fully clear the mask.
9. Now fully remove the mask under water, replace it and clear it. When putting the mask back onto the face, do it gently. Doing it gently is the key to avoid forcing/pumping water into your nose.

I hope some of this information helps you out Jewls. Hang in there and keep practicing. Once you get the skill down, you will wonder why it was so hard in the first place.

 

[Aquabear]

Jewls,

I havent had much problems with equalization but the jaw movement,swallowing is helpful. Over time and experience it will be a simple an easy second nature for you:cheerleader:

Sudafed is ok to take but only if I feel congested. But only sudafed alone not in combonation with Bendaryl or any other antihistamine- ie:benadryl, allergy medicine with sudafed/pseudafedrine added in.
Some allergy meds(like benadryl,actifed,etc) have a drowsy effect that at depth will be even greater- you dont want these issues

Good luck have fun!!!

 

[boulderjohn]

You did training in Chatfield in November? Whew!

I suggest you go to a pool and and get somewhere where you can stand. With just your snorkel in your mouth, lean forward and get comfortable with your face in the water. You should be able to float enough that you don't sink down, but if you have a dense body, you can use a noodle or paddleboard. Just lie there breathing through the snorkel.

I disagree with the advice above to do this exhaling through your nose. You need to learn airway control, and the only time you should be exhaling through your nose is if you have to equalize your mask or if you are clearing the water from it. You should be able to control which is which.

Eventually you should be able to swim around, again with just the snorkel, and again just breathing through the mouth.

If a mask is a decent fit and still leaks, there are usually one or both of two reasons involved. One is excessive face movement, especially of the mouth, that breaks the seal. The other is breathing out the nose. My guess is that you are a nose breather, which is why I strongly suggest learning not to do that. (Does the mask fog up, too?)

To test yourself for nose breathing, put your mask on without the strap, push it in slightly to create a slight suction, and just see how long you can keep it there. If you don't move your face too much, and if you don't breathe out your nose, it should stay there as long as you want it to. I can do that with the weight of the snorkel hanging off it, and I can talk while doing it.

You mask fit problem should be solvable by a skilled dive shop attendant. The shop I use has a wide variety of sizes for all kinds of faces. I bought one for my (then) 5 year old grandson there, and it is an excellent mask he can still use 2 years later. If the shop you are using cannot get a mask that works for you, send me a private message (PM) and I will recommend one that will. (If you are diving this time of the year at Chatfield, I suspect you are already using a pretty good shop, so they really should be able to fit you. Don't give up until you get the mask that is right nor you.)

 

[john844]

I must have misunderstood the OP's issue about the mask. I thought they were having issues with the water getting up their nose while trying to clear it. This was happing to my wife and thought her experience might help.

I agree that you should not have to breath through your nose regularly. It should only be needed to releive mask squeeze and to clear the mask.

 

[idocsteve]

I've also heard that people can take Sudafed to help ease the pressure in your ears, making equalizing easier. I don't want to risk taking a medication that could potentially effect my dive in a negative way. Has anyone tried this? Do you think it is safe?

This topic is highly controversial.

The PADI manual and many divers will tell you that taking Sudafed might put you at risk for reverse block because it can wear off during the dive. There can also be an "enhancement" of side effects of drugs at depth, not only Sudafed but many others.

That much said, many divers use Sudafed with no ill effects. I used to get bad sinus headaches following the deeper dives and if it wasn't for Sudafed I'd probably not be diving today.

 

[boulderjohn]

This topic is highly controversial.

The PADI manual and many divers will tell you that taking Sudafed might put you at risk for reverse block because it can wear off during the dive. There can also be an "enhancement" of side effects of drugs at depth, not only Sudafed but many others.

That much said, many divers use Sudafed with no ill effects. I used to get bad sinus headaches following the deeper dives and if it wasn't for Sudafed I'd probably not be diving today.

DAN has studied this. They do not at all recommend it in the case of a cold for the reasons described in the quote above. The people who take it successfully do so just to open things up a little better, and they should not have a reverse block problem.

DAN's biggest concern was for other side effects. If you know you can take something like that without any side effects, then you should be OK under those circumstances.

You should be aware that there are two different medications that go by the name Sudafed. One can be purchased simply by taking it off the shelf in the supermarket. The other requires that you pick it up at the pharmacy and sign for it because the ingredients can be used to make crystal meth.

 

[idocsteve]

The people who take it successfully do so just to open things up a little better, and they should not have a reverse block problem.

That's a really good point and one I never really considered. Makes sense if you think about it...if a diver is "all clogged up" and they take a medication so they can salvage a dive...well they just might be in serious trouble if things close back down on them.

However in cases such as my own, where it's more of an annoyance due to sinus problems rather than a total blockage due to an acute condition, it would naturally follow that the risk is much lower.

Then again it's human nature to want to try to salvage a dive trip, especially if it's on a vacation dive destination where you've only got a limited opportunity to get in the water and you've got time and money invested in the trip.

 

[Surface Interval]

I agree that your mask seal problem is probably due to breathing through your nose. It's a hard habit to break.

Did they help you "test" the mask out before you started your OW class? Sometimes you can have a seal in the store but you're just sucking it to your face still.

I have a smallish face also and I can shop "Kid Size" masks. Maybe you could see if that works for you.

 

[vjanelle]

I've also heard that people can take Sudafed to help ease the pressure in your ears, making equalizing easier. I don't want to risk taking a medication that could potentially effect my dive in a negative way. Has anyone tried this? Do you think it is safe?

I wouldn't depend on this, especiallky if you start doing a lot of repetitive diving, or travelling(Sudafed + nitrox = bad). There are other nasal steroids like flonaise/etc which MIGHT(erring on the side of not being ok) be ok, but if you're having problems equalizing, go see an ENT(ear-nose-throat) doctor first.

 

[CamG]

Greetings Jewis and welcome to Scuba Board! The first and foremost advice I would offer is to RELAX, RELAX AND RELAX some more. These are issues that many divers have initially while there brain is being trained to breath under water. It just takes time and experience to achieve mastery of these skills. I do want to emphasize the importance of MASTERY because these skills are critical to safe diving practices.
Give yourself some extra pool time to practice with a buddy and in no time you will find it getting easier to achieve.
About the mask, try a variety of smaller framed/framless masks to see if one is better than the other. I recommend the Atomic quite a bit but Aqua lung, Scuba Pro, Tusa all make masks for small faces. The key is try to find the best fit. I have put my wife in the Atomic midi frameless and it is great mask.
The equalization techniques you have described are the most common but there are more to try. Watch the video already given in the previous post and do a search on it using the search engine here on SB. I think you will find a wealth of information that will expand your methods. It will get so much easier with time and practice do not get in a hurry, SLOW DOWN AND RELAX! If it takes you longer no big deal be patient and if your dive buddy has an issue with it find another one! IT WILL GET BETTER!
My next comment is on the medical advice given in the previous post;
1. Always seek professional advice for dive related medicine issues.
Divers Alert Network, DAN is always ready and willing to advise about medications to use while diving. And they are the #1 source of what is safe and what is not. Please heed this and use their expertise for further information.
2. Find an ENT to visit routinely to get advice and keep your ears healthy.
This is a major issue for me, my ENT has made my diving so much more enjoyable and so much easier to equalize through a regiment of daily preparation both pre and post dive. Seek out a dive friendly ENT and you will be very thankful.
3. NEVER EVER FORCE IT! This can never be said enough about equalization! Nothing good can come from it and I have personally seen some bad examples. Heed the warning and follow the equalization rules.
I am just trying to offer good advice and not trying to offend anyone and at the end of the day please research these issues for yourself. I am certain that the sources given will provide you with the information you need to make a good decision.
It is my goal to help you enjoy your diving and keep you in the water. After all how do you practice if you want to be a better diver?
Have fun and be safe. Relax and dive every chance you get.
CamG Keep diving....keep training....keep learning!