Mask Clearing - a new problem for me

[Simon Fennell]

All,

It's been fairly quiet on here recently, so here's one to get you thinking.

We have recently started our new Ocean Diver course and have one student who is struggling with mask clearing - however not in the normal "hate water on face so freak out" way. This person can't seem to exhale through their nose when under water!

They are quite comfortable with water in the mask, however when the time comes to clear it their head goes back and then they adopt a pose that I can only describe as "baby on the potty" (you know - scrunched up face, lots of effort etc), followed after several seconds with them exhaling through the DV.

We have done some dry runs on the surface without any kit, and they seem to be ok doing that, but add a DV to the equation and it all goes out the window and we are back in "potty land".

So, any thoughts on how to get them to exhale through the nose at the required time (or any other for that matter)?? Also, as an aside how do we get them to change the facial expression - makes it very hard to keep a straigh face??

Answers on a postcard please.

Thanks

Simon

[Dave Sydenham]

All,

It's been fairly quiet on here recently, so here's one to get you thinking.

We have recently started our new Ocean Diver course and have one student who is struggling with mask clearing - however not in the normal "hate water on face so freak out" way. This person can't seem to exhale through their nose when under water!

They are quite comfortable with water in the mask, however when the time comes to clear it their head goes back and then they adopt a pose that I can only describe as "baby on the potty" (you know - scrunched up face, lots of effort etc), followed after several seconds with them exhaling through the DV.

We have done some dry runs on the surface without any kit, and they seem to be ok doing that, but add a DV to the equation and it all goes out the window and we are back in "potty land".

So, any thoughts on how to get them to exhale through the nose at the required time (or any other for that matter)?? Also, as an aside how do we get them to change the facial expression - makes it very hard to keep a straigh face??

Answers on a postcard please.

Thanks

Simon

Hi Simon,

I have come across quite a few variations on this theme including people snorting the water out of the mask up their nose!! I would suggest starting by breaking the skill down such that you start without putting any water in the mask. Just get them used to breathing in through the mouth and out through the nose. Keep doing this for some time until they get quite used to doing it. If they still can't get used to this then switch to the DV clearing excercise. Then get them to breath in through the mouth, remove the DV and close their mouth so the only way they can breath out is through the nose, get them to exhale out into the mask (still no water in it yet) then replacing and clearing the DV. Once they have got that then try getting them to keep their DV in and do the same. Again once comfortable with this then move onto small amounts of water. Also emphasise the need to exhale gently as often people blow hard and just blast all the air out the bottom of the mask. Getting used to this without introducing water can help. Another variation on this theme which some people seem to find easier is to get them kneeling in shallow water (so that they can stand up if required) with no mask just breathing in through the mouth and out through the nose. When they have established a good rythym you then 'place' the mask on their face and they'll find that they can magically clear a mask!

Hope this helps.

Cheers!

Dave
:o)

[Dave Woodward]

Simon,
Apparently, for some, it is difficult to start breathing out through the nose with the head tilted up/back. It may be rubbish, but try to get them to start almost with their chin on their chest then as they blow tilt the head back. Also stops water runnign back up the nose.
Does that make sense?
Dave

:=All,
:=
:=It's been fairly quiet on here recently, so here's one to get you thinking.
:=
:=We have recently started our new Ocean Diver course and have one student who is struggling with mask clearing - however not in the normal "hate water on face so freak out" way. This person can't seem to exhale through their nose when under water!
:=
:=They are quite comfortable with water in the mask, however when the time comes to clear it their head goes back and then they adopt a pose that I can only describe as "baby on the potty" (you know - scrunched up face, lots of effort etc), followed after several seconds with them exhaling through the DV.
:=
:=We have done some dry runs on the surface without any kit, and they seem to be ok doing that, but add a DV to the equation and it all goes out the window and we are back in "potty land".
:=
:=So, any thoughts on how to get them to exhale through the nose at the required time (or any other for that matter)?? Also, as an aside how do we get them to change the facial expression - makes it very hard to keep a straigh face??
:=
:=Answers on a postcard please.
:=
:=Thanks
:=
:=Simon

Hi Simon,

I have come across quite a few variations on this theme including people snorting the water out of the mask up their nose!! I would suggest starting by breaking the skill down such that you start without putting any water in the mask. Just get them used to breathing in through the mouth and out through the nose. Keep doing this for some time until they get quite used to doing it. If they still can't get used to this then switch to the DV clearing excercise. Then get them to breath in through the mouth, remove the DV and close their mouth so the only way they can breath out is through the nose, get them to exhale out into the mask (still no water in it yet) then replacing and clearing the DV. Once they have got that then try getting them to keep their DV in and do the same. Again once comfortable with this then move onto small amounts of water. Also emphasise the need to exhale gently as often people blow hard and just blast all the air out the bottom of the mask. Getting used to this without introducing water can help. Another variation on this theme which some people seem to find easier is to get them kneeling in shallow water (so that they can stand up if required) with no mask just breathing in through the mouth and out through the nose. When they have established a good rythym you then 'place' the mask on their face and they'll find that they can magically clear a mask!

Hope this helps.

Cheers!

Dave
:o)

[Nigel Hewitt]

We have recently started our new Ocean Diver course and have one student who is struggling with mask clearing - however not in the normal "hate water on face so freak out" way. This person can't seem to exhale through their nose when under water!

The valve in your head that controls whether you breath through your mouth or nose is a bit intuitive and some people find it hard to realise that they have conscious control over it as much as their arm.

I've coached people through the alternative, which is not thinking they could not turn it off, so they inhale water when they take their mask off. I do it with balloons (you can blow up a balloon without holding your nose right? The final drill is to almost close your mouth into a whistle shape so you can feel the resistance as you breath and then switch between mouth breathing and nose breathing - deliberately. To some people it is obvious but for others it takes a few minutes for the penny to drop. Nobody has failed yet. For your case add head/neck movement to the exercise.

HTH

[matts]

We have done some dry runs on the surface without any kit, and they seem to be ok doing that, but add a DV to the equation and it all goes out the window

This sounds like a problem directing breath through the nose when the mouth is held open by the DV mouthpiece. The simplest way to stop breathing out through the mouth is to place the tip of the tongue behind the teeth of the upper jaw and flatten the tongue against the upper palate. If you were ever forced to play the recorder at school you may remember this tongueing lesson - all that screeching through 3 blind mice was useful after all :-)

The most basic exercise can be completed without any kit just by having your student make a 't' (tu) sound repeatedly.

There are a couple exercises that can help transfer the skill into a diving environment. The most important thing is to make sure the mask is fitted correctly and not too tight. Your student should be able to easily lift the mask skirt by exhaling through the nose. Now find a whistle. Fit the mask and put the whistle in the mouth and start breathing. If the mouth is not sealed the you will get a squeak from the whistle. Keep trying until the trainee can reliably breathe without squeaking.

The next step is to replace the whistle with a snorkel. Practise on the surface and then just under the surface. You should be able to see the air bubbling out of the mask on each exhale. Finally repeat using a DV. Once you have established that breath can be directed at will, move on to mask clearing.

Keep in mind that tilting the head back is not the only way to clear a mask. I had one trainee that tilted her head to the side whenever she put her head back. You can clear most modern low volume masks simply by breathing out through the nose and tilting the bottom of the mask away from the face. As long as they can reliably clear their mask it does not really matter how they do it - snorting the water is a bit extreme though ;-)

HTH

[Andy Wade]

:=We have done some dry runs on the surface without any kit, and they seem to be ok doing that, but add a DV to the equation and it all goes out the window

This sounds like a problem directing breath through the nose when the mouth is held open by the DV mouthpiece. The simplest way to stop breathing out through the mouth is to place the tip of the tongue behind the teeth of the upper jaw and flatten the tongue against the upper palate. If you were ever forced to play the recorder at school you may remember this tongueing lesson - all that screeching through 3 blind mice was useful after all :-)

The most basic exercise can be completed without any kit just by having your student make a 't' (tu) sound repeatedly.

There are a couple exercises that can help transfer the skill into a diving environment. The most important thing is to make sure the mask is fitted correctly and not too tight. Your student should be able to easily lift the mask skirt by exhaling through the nose. Now find a whistle. Fit the mask and put the whistle in the mouth and start breathing. If the mouth is not sealed the you will get a squeak from the whistle. Keep trying until the trainee can reliably breathe without squeaking.
(snipped)

Thats a new approach to me Matt. I just love your whistle idea! Great fun and good progression too.

[terryh]

All,

It's been fairly quiet on here recently, so here's one to get you thinking.

We have recently started our new Ocean Diver course and have one student who is struggling with mask clearing - however not in the normal "hate water on face so freak out" way. This person can't seem to exhale through their nose when under water!

They are quite comfortable with water in the mask, however when the time comes to clear it their head goes back and then they adopt a pose that I can only describe as "baby on the potty" (you know - scrunched up face, lots of effort etc), followed after several seconds with them exhaling through the DV.

We have done some dry runs on the surface without any kit, and they seem to be ok doing that, but add a DV to the equation and it all goes out the window and we are back in "potty land".

So, any thoughts on how to get them to exhale through the nose at the required time (or any other for that matter)?? Also, as an aside how do we get them to change the facial expression - makes it very hard to keep a straigh face??

Answers on a postcard please.

Thanks

Simon

Most people are ok with swimming underwater and even blowing
out through mouth and nose to gain a few extra seconds
underwater. Trouble is that as soon as we stick a mask or reg
in it all goes to pot.

So shallow end, kneel down, head just above water. Take a
breath go under so nose is now under water. Blow out slowly
through nose. As soon as they have doen this put mouth above
water and breathe.

Now do same but this time with reg in. Mouth underwater breathe
in through reg out through nose. Once rhythm is established
bend kness so nose is undwater. Now comtinue with breathe in
through mouth/reg out through nose.

Soon as this is mastered go all the way under. Still breathing
through mouth out through nose. Whilst doing this put on
mask. Dont need to tell them, as next time they breathe out
mask will partialy clear.

Co-ordinate it, get them to tip back for full clear.

I've had absolutley loads of students with mask problems over
the years and this works every time.

TerryH

[Simon Fennell]

:=All,
:=
:=It's been fairly quiet on here recently, so here's one to get you thinking.
:=
:=We have recently started our new Ocean Diver course and have one student who is struggling with mask clearing - however not in the normal "hate water on face so freak out" way. This person can't seem to exhale through their nose when under water!
:=
:=They are quite comfortable with water in the mask, however when the time comes to clear it their head goes back and then they adopt a pose that I can only describe as "baby on the potty" (you know - scrunched up face, lots of effort etc), followed after several seconds with them exhaling through the DV.
:=
:=We have done some dry runs on the surface without any kit, and they seem to be ok doing that, but add a DV to the equation and it all goes out the window and we are back in "potty land".
:=
:=So, any thoughts on how to get them to exhale through the nose at the required time (or any other for that matter)?? Also, as an aside how do we get them to change the facial expression - makes it very hard to keep a straigh face??
:=
:=Answers on a postcard please.
:=
:=Thanks
:=
:=Simon

Most people are ok with swimming underwater and even blowing
out through mouth and nose to gain a few extra seconds
underwater. Trouble is that as soon as we stick a mask or reg
in it all goes to pot.

So shallow end, kneel down, head just above water. Take a
breath go under so nose is now under water. Blow out slowly
through nose. As soon as they have doen this put mouth above
water and breathe.

Now do same but this time with reg in. Mouth underwater breathe
in through reg out through nose. Once rhythm is established
bend kness so nose is undwater. Now comtinue with breathe in
through mouth/reg out through nose.

Soon as this is mastered go all the way under. Still breathing
through mouth out through nose. Whilst doing this put on
mask. Dont need to tell them, as next time they breathe out
mask will partialy clear.

Co-ordinate it, get them to tip back for full clear.

I've had absolutley loads of students with mask problems over
the years and this works every time.

TerryH



Thanks for all the ideas - definitely some useful stuff in there which I look to try at the next pool night.

Hopefully won't need to come back for more!

Thanks again

Simon

[MarkPapp]

Hi Simon,

I've found getting students to hum with their mouths open works a treat.

Regards,

Mark

[Colin Knight]

I had this problem a while back. I broke the exercise down into the following sub skills and after 20 minutes the student could do it.
I had him do this standing in the shallows so his head was out of the water:
1. exhaled in through his mouth and out through his nose with no mask.
2. exhaled in through his mouth and out through his nose with mask on.
3. exhaled in through his snorkel and out through his nose with mask on.
Now with head under water:
4. exhaled in through his snorkel out through his nose.
5. he added a little water to his mask and repeated 4.
6. he fully flooded his mask and repeated the skill - successfully cleared it.
7. repeated 4,5,6 with DV and he successfully cleared the mask.

[Sarah Gauci Carlton]

Hi Simon,
Usually it means that they cannot breathe out through their nose with their mouth open so the mouth needs to be blocked. Obviously with a reg in the mouth is not blocked, so you need to get them to block their mouth by outting their tongue against the roof of their mouth. Try this out of the water first. Out of the water, with reg in, get the person to put the DV in, then to actively place their tongue against the roof of their mouth and then breathe out through the nose. This should work. You can then put the mask on and repeat the exercise ansd then progressively move into the water and then deeper.

Hope this helps,
Best regards,
Sarah
Simon,
Apparently, for some, it is difficult to start breathing out through the nose with the head tilted up/back. It may be rubbish, but try to get them to start almost with their chin on their chest then as they blow tilt the head back. Also stops water runnign back up the nose.
Does that make sense?
Dave

:=:=All,
:=:=
:=:=It's been fairly quiet on here recently, so here's one to get you thinking.
:=:=
:=:=We have recently started our new Ocean Diver course and have one student who is struggling with mask clearing - however not in the normal "hate water on face so freak out" way. This person can't seem to exhale through their nose when under water!
:=:=
:=:=They are quite comfortable with water in the mask, however when the time comes to clear it their head goes back and then they adopt a pose that I can only describe as "baby on the potty" (you know - scrunched up face, lots of effort etc), followed after several seconds with them exhaling through the DV.
:=:=
:=:=We have done some dry runs on the surface without any kit, and they seem to be ok doing that, but add a DV to the equation and it all goes out the window and we are back in "potty land".
:=:=
:=:=So, any thoughts on how to get them to exhale through the nose at the required time (or any other for that matter)?? Also, as an aside how do we get them to change the facial expression - makes it very hard to keep a straigh face??
:=:=
:=:=Answers on a postcard please.
:=:=
:=:=Thanks
:=:=
:=:=Simon
:=
:=Hi Simon,
:=
:=I have come across quite a few variations on this theme including people snorting the water out of the mask up their nose!! I would suggest starting by breaking the skill down such that you start without putting any water in the mask. Just get them used to breathing in through the mouth and out through the nose. Keep doing this for some time until they get quite used to doing it. If they still can't get used to this then switch to the DV clearing excercise. Then get them to breath in through the mouth, remove the DV and close their mouth so the only way they can breath out is through the nose, get them to exhale out into the mask (still no water in it yet) then replacing and clearing the DV. Once they have got that then try getting them to keep their DV in and do the same. Again once comfortable with this then move onto small amounts of water. Also emphasise the need to exhale gently as often people blow hard and just blast all the air out the bottom of the mask. Getting used to this without introducing water can help. Another variation on this theme which some people seem to find easier is to get them kneeling in shallow water (so that they can stand up if required) with no mask just breathing in through the mouth and out through the nose. When they have established a good rythym you then 'place' the mask on their face and they'll find that they can magically clear a mask!
:=
:=Hope this helps.
:=
:=Cheers!
:=
:=Dave
:=:o)
:=

[Angelfish]

Hi
To get them started I just give them a snorkel with no mask. They dip their head in the water and start to breathe in and out through their mouth. Then I get them to breathe in through their mouth and out through their nose. Once they can do it without having to think about it they usually find mask clearing easier.
Ive even given the odd trainee homework of taking a snorkel home and practising it in the sink!!
Its usually helpful to remind trainees that they can take as many breaths as they like to clear a mask, that usually relaxes them.

sharon