Padi test problem with facemask off

[Noob]

I ran into an issue last night in my training. I'm having an issue when I take my mask off water going up my nose while breathing from my reg.

How do you guys prevent this? I've never had a problem with this that I can remember when not using a reg or even a mask.

[DivingCRNA]

Exhale fro your nose. Just make sure to mouth breath.

[CompuDude]

Practice in the bathroom sink with a snorkel. Just fill the sink with cold water, take the mask off and only use the snorkel. You'll get it.

[Noob]

Originally Posted by CompuDude

Practice in the bathroom sink with a snorkel. Just fill the sink with cold water, take the mask off and only use the snorkel. You'll get it.

"Exhale fro your nose. Just make sure to mouth breath."

Thank you guys for the recommendation. I'll be trying this tonight.


Thanks

[John Yaskowich]

Also try going to a pool with swimming goggles (not a mask) and snorkle. Stand in the shallow end, bend over to put your face in the water and breathe through the snorkle. If you get water up your nose you can stand up and sputter before trying again. Won't take long before you are used to breathing through your mouth with water around your nose.

[awap]

This is a practice and confidence thing. Pool, bathtub, or sink (I'd go with warm water) will all work. Start by holding your nose and then slowly release it. Focus on breathing only through your mouth. Keep working on it and you will have no problem. And then continue to practice it occasionally as you continue diving.

[CompuDude]

Originally Posted by awap

This is a practice and confidence thing. Pool, bathtub, or sink (I'd go with warm water) will all work. Start by holding your nose and then slowly release it. Focus on breathing only through your mouth. Keep working on it and you will have no problem. And then continue to practice it occasionally as you continue diving.

I recommend cold water precisely to prepare people for the shock that flooding your mask with cold water brings. It's less comfortable... and that's the point of doing the skill. If you can't do it when things are less than bathtub warm, that's going to limit your diving...

[awap]

Originally Posted by CompuDude

I recommend cold water precisely to prepare people for the shock that flooding your mask with cold water brings. It's less comfortable... and that's the point of doing the skill. If you can't do it when things are less than bathtub warm, that's going to limit your diving...

I thought that might be the case. But, I still recommend crawl before walk. And once you master the control of breathing through the mouth without any intake through the nose, the rest is pretty easy.

I remember quite a few years ago (teenager) trying to snorkel without my mask. When I finished choking, I concluded (without further test) that it was impossible. That was the only aspect of scuba cert that had me a little anxious.

[ScubaToys Larry]

Really one of the hardest things to do in scuba - so don't feel bad. Our whole life, it doesn't matter how you breathe, and suddenly it does! So changing something you've done your whole life in a few minutes is not easy...

To make sure you don't inhale at all with your nose... we just send our students into the bathroom right after Joe. That does it!

[Aquatrax]

try keeping your tongue away from the roof of your mouth and breathe slowly. I found that pressing it on the inside of my bottom row of teeth keeps my airway extra open. Also try tilting your head just a bit forward.

As others have said, practice at home, you can even get into the shower with your mask, let it fill up and just breath while you bathe.

keep trying, you'll get it