It's 5 o'clock at the beach bar near the dive centre, diving instructors and students alike are describing battling through the dreaded partial or full mask clear of the open water diver course with fear in their eyes. Spine-chilling stories emerge of terrifying mask removals and horrifying no mask swims.
So what is it that makes having water in – or even, god forbid, removing- your mask so anxiety-provoking and what are steps you can take as a student and as an instructor to make things a lot more chill?
Give yourself time to master mask-clearing
The first and most important step is to stop rushing. Some people get it the first time, if this is not your case, stop for a minute, breathe, and review in your head mentally what you need to do, and what the risks are (a bit of water up your nose or some coughing,). Relax and do it again in your own time. If it takes 6 times to feel comfortable, so be it. PADI training (or SSI for that matter) is based on mastery learning so you just keep on going until you can do it comfortably. If the group you are in is going too fast, see if you can change groups or if you can practice with a DM/ other instructor whilst other students practice skills which may be challenging for them.
Make sure you love it
As long as you are having a good time and really want to dive, the number of times and hours you need to complete the skills doesn't matter. Just check in with yourself that this is fun for you. If you are overcoming past traumas, not only do you deserve a medal but also more time. Diving is very therapeutic and many people, including scuba instructors, have gotten over the fear of water and other phobias by learning to dive, but it can be a longer road than for other people. Be kind to yourself and make sure you are enjoying the journey.
Make sure you are comfortable with your instructor
If your instructor's style of teaching is anxiety-provoking or not working for you, maybe you need a different approach. Instructors have very different styles to suit very different people. You need to feel relaxed, have trust and have fun, if that's not happening perhaps try with someone else.
Get comfortable beforehand
Now a bit of more technical stuff. As our friend Simon Pridmore mentions in his fabulous book 'Scuba Fundamental, how to Start Diving the Right Way'), You can start practicing skills in your shower, bath or hotel pool before you even start the course if you know that having a mask on your face or eyes can be challenging. Try putting a little water in your mask and see how it goes.
Try breathing with the regulator in and mask off on the surface
A good way to convince your brain that you don't need your mask on to breathe and stay alive underwater is to practice standing up in the pool with your face in the water breathing through your regulator but without the mask. Your brain slowly gets used to having a wet face but still breathing. We are not fish after all so our land mammal brains need some adjusting time.
Practice disassociating nose and mouth
For a lot of people, the problem is disassociating their nose and their mouth. Some people find it hard to breathe in through their mouth and then exhale through the nose. Again you practice this on the surface with just your head in the water. Or even on land by pinching your nose. Play around with it until your brain gets the idea that you should not be inhaling through the nose when the mask is full of water!
Pinch your nose until you master it
As just mentioned the pool/sea water sinus cleanse that can be associated with mask clear is often the offputting bit. Once you've got the hang of it on land and on partial clear if the removal is still daunting try pinching your nose once the mask is off and you are breathing without it or swimming without it. You should be able to do this skill without resorting to this but you can get your confidence levels up but practising this way first. Remember if you ever were to lose your mask in the sea and your buddy went to retrieve it you could just pinch your nose whilst you're waiting!
Chiiiiiiilll
The most important thing to remember is to just chill and enjoy the process. You've got this. What's the worst that can happen? You get a bit of water up your nose or swallow a big mouthful of chlorinated water. Diving is fun, take your time, relax, and don't let what others are doing (or not doing) get in your head. And always remember, if you really don't like it and it's not your cup of (salty)tea, that's totally ok too! NO pressure!
So now do you feel ready for your Open Water? Get in touch!
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