Scuba diver help

Renee

Any scuba divers out there!
My o/h and I are going to Nuweiba in Egypt on Monday. When we booked the holiday about 6 weeks ago we decided we would have a go at scuba diving. As we had to have a medical, we're both over 60, it meant we had to go on a fast track course. The problem is.. I can't take my mask off under water and breathe thru my mouth. This is one of the things you have to do before you're qualified.
Is there anyone out there who could give me any tips on how to go about it.

ie which way up does my face go

Thanks

Bokken_2

Practise,practise,practise
The only way is to keep doing the drill until you relax and don't panic and rush the drill.
When you practise hold the face mask in the same way each time so it is easier to slip back on to your head without changing your hands or your grip.
This saves vital seconds and helps you to remain calm and complete the drill successfully.Also the mask will still be the right way up to fit onto your face.
Then hold the mask firmly at the top pushing onto your head and breathe out the exhale air fills the facemask and forces the water out leaving a water tight seal around your face.
you then continue swimming underwater,or do the drills again.
Does that help?
Good luck and enjoy your diving.
PS .Don't drink alcohol for the previous 48hrs before diving and don't eat anything greasy as being sick in the face mask is something you should avoid.

Fullup

It does need lots of practice. As divers we breathe through the regulator in our mouth. This is made easier when our nose is covered by the mask, however, when the mask is removed we need to make sure we don’t inhale through our nose again.

When you are learning this skill set it is often easier to break it down into little bits.

You could try, in shallow water, with just your snorkel and no mask. Bend over placing your face in the water and practice breathing through your snorkel. The first few attempts you may find it difficult and stand up again. Just keep practicing until it becomes second nature breathing through the snorkel.

Once you have mastered the first bit try the same thing with the mask on but then remove it with your face still in the water and continue breathing through the snorkel.

When you have done this try kneeling in shallow water and using your scuba gear remove your mask and continue breathing through your regulator for a few breaths.

When you can do this with out wanting to make a dash for the surface, practice partially flooding the mask and clearing it (without removing it). This will get you used to water in the mask and blowing out through your nose to clear the mask but breathing in via your mouth.

When you are happy with the above steps have a go at removing and refitting your mask (again in shallow water, no more than standing depth).

Sorry for the long answer but breaking it down into little bits often can help building the skill set up and also build your confidence.

I hope you have a great holiday and enjoy the underwater world.

Renee

Thanks Bokken and Fullup for your advice. I've been having a go in the bath!!

We take the exam tonight but with what we have achieved we can go down with a dive instructor on holiday

Thanks for your best wishes

Renee

Fullup

Good luck to you both with your exam tonight.

Which agency are you doing it with PADI/BSAC ?

Renee

PADI.
They've been really good. A couple of times I freaked out but they went through it slowly with me. I'm quite pleased with myself as I hated getting my hair and face wet and wouldn't go out of my depth.
Jim,my husband, has sailed through it but being on the fast track, which meant going twice a week, we barely had time to read the chapter before we had to go again.

The children and grandkids are very impressed with us and to tell you the truth, so am I !!

cundall

Renee wrote:

PADI.
They've been really good. A couple of times I freaked out but they went through it slowly with me. I'm quite pleased with myself as I hated getting my hair and face wet and wouldn't go out of my depth.
Jim,my husband, has sailed through it but being on the fast track, which meant going twice a week, we barely had time to read the chapter before we had to go again.

The children and grandkids are very impressed with us and to tell you the truth, so am I !!

I hope that means you have passed as going scuba diving is great i only have my open water at the moment but i still love it...

Renee

Hi cundall

We both passed the exam last night, only theory, but we're nearly there. Instructors were brilliant, I kept trying for an hour with the mask removal and managed to almost do it, must loosen my mask strap!! Now we can relax and have a good holiday where we will can do some dives with a Instructor.

Thanks for all your good wishes

Renee

spirit

Renee,

I'm glad to hear that you are persisting with it - it is worth the effort. I also had a problem with mask clearing - i HATED it. I just had panics when i took my mask off (in the pool) and ended up swallowing most of the pool water! I had a fab instructor though and she took me on a 1/1 basis. My husband (now ex) sailed through it but he was !!!!!! at other aspects of diving - like staying with your buddy! I learned to dive in the wintertime and when I had to do my first open water dive - the temp was 6c! the instructor signalled to me to take my mask off and I gave him an unofficial signal back which meant naff off!

Seriously though. once you've mastered it, its quite easy really, if you are anything like me, its the psychological aspect of it.

I'm off to the Red Sea next week and might be tempted to have a dive myself!

Renee

Hi spirit

Where are you going to. We're off to Nuweiba which is just up from Sharm. First time to Egypt so really lookin forward to it

Renee

spirit

Hi Renee,

I'm going to Aqaba in Jordan. I've not been to the Egyptian side but I'm told its great. You'll love it i'm sure as there's lots to see without having to go very deep at all.

Have you done any of your dives yet or just the theory test Renee?

chris