Aim
Flood and clear a scuba mask while underwater.
Reason to Learn
There are a few reasons why you may need to clear water from your mask. Masks sometimes leak if hair prevents the mask making a proper seal on the face. Sometimes a diver will want to deliberately partially flood their mask in order to defog it.
Difficulty: Average
Time Required: One minute or less
Here's How:
- Gently peel the mask seal off the face at the forehead, allowing water to trickle into the mask. You will practice this skill by both partially and fully flooding your mask.
- Take a regular breath from your regulator.
- Tilt you head back so that you're facing the surface. Place the index and middle fingers of both hands onto the top corners of your mask. Push down on the top of the mask.
- While applying this pressure to the top of your mask exhale through your nose. The air coming of out of your nose will push all of the water out of your mask.
- If the mask is clear, give your instructor the OK sign. If not, take another breath from your regulator and repeat steps 3 & 4.
Tips:
- If you wear contact lenses remember to keep your eyes closed while your mask is flooded with water. You may want to arrange a predetermined way for your instructor to let you know when the mask is clear.
- Remember to look up as you clear your mask. Looking up makes it much easier for the water to flush out of the mask.
- Remember to use two fingers on each hand to apply pressure to the top of your mask. Don't lift the bottom of the mask as this will cause the mask to fill up with water again as soon as you clear it.
- Some people have difficulty knowing whether they are exhaling from their nose or mouth. If you have trouble exhaling from your nose try placing your tongue on the roof of your mouth while exhaling - most people find that this forces you to exhale through your nose.
- Remember that there is no need to clear the mask in one go. You can repeat steps 2-4 as many times a necessary to clear the mask.
What You Need:
- Full set of scuba equipment