A Tribe Called K2 Buhl-oog!

Welcome back ROCKSTAR! Good to see you again and grateful for you being a member of the Tribe K2! Have you subscribed to our RSS feed?

We write this stuff/post this stuff for you. Tell us what you like! Ping me at admin (at) K2SCUBA.com and tell me what you would like to see here!

Removing and replacing a scuba mask is the skill that most new divers worry about. However with a few simple steps you can master this skill.
Mask clearing
Before you learn to remove and replace your mask completely you should practice clearing the mask until you are comfortable with this skill.  Remember - when clearing scuba masks start breathing out before you tilt your head up to prevent water going up your nose.
The magic snorkel
To prepare in advance for the mask removal you can practice at home with a snorkel. Fill a basin with COLD water and place your face in the water. Breathe thru the snorkel to become comfortable with having your face in water whilst still breathing.  Each time you do it try and stay an additional couple of breaths till you’re employed up to 30 seconds.
Practice in your comfort zone
When you’re able to practice at your next scuba diving session demand to practice (heck you are paying for it-the instructor WORKS FOR YOU)  in the shallow end first before going into the deeper water. When you do have to do the mask removal, try and take things slow and focus on your respiring when you’re twitchy. If you need to, throw the panic signal  up sign and your instructor will bring you to the surface.

Mask removal and replace – step by step

1. Fill your mask with water by breaking the seal
2. Take a moment to breathe and become comfortable with having your face covered by water.
3. Remove the mask strap and take the mask away from your face.
4. DO NOT LET GO OF THE MASK!
5. Make sure your snorkel is clear and to the side of the mask.
6. Place your thumb in the nose pocket and guide it back to your face.
7. Place the mask strap over your head and confirm it’s not twisted.
8. Feel round the skirt of the mask to make certain nothing is caught in it, hood or hair, also to make certain it isn’t tucked up.
9. Clear the mask as you’ve been practicing before.

Remember the point of the practice sessions are to build your confidence, if things are not going well ask to take five and come back to the skill later. When you master a new scuba diving ability there’s always a great sense of accomplishment. Guaranteeing you are assured with mask clearing, practice with the magic snorkel at home and taking things slowly in the pool session will help you remove and replace your mask simply and with confidence.
Good luck!

Related posts:

1. K2 How To’s: Choosing the proper Scuba Mask
2. K2 How To's: Clean And Maintain Your Scuba/Snorkeling Mask
3. Snorkeling or SCUBA? Schweet UltraDry-Ness with the Oceanic UltraDry Snorkel
4. Mask Monday on Flipilicious! Tilos Excel Frameless Scuba/Snorkeling Mask
5. Mask Monday on Flipililicious! Tilos Excel Frameless Scuba/Snorkeling Mask

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Tags: dive skills, mask removal, scuba diving, scuba equipment, scuba gear, scuba masks

This entry was posted on Thursday, June 18th, 2009 at 10:34 PM and is filed under Inspiration, Interesting, Learning, Recreational Diving, scuba equipment. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.