Posted by NightDiver on October 22, 2002 at 14:25:33:
In Reply to: Mask Removal Panic posted by Todd on October 22, 2002 at 12:25:07:
Obviously, the more you practice this skill, the easier it will get. I still, occasionally, will remove my mask during a dive and replace it to practice this skills, since, as others have commented, it does happen that your mask with be accidentally dislodged.
Most new divers actually struggle with airway control...keeping the water from going up your nose while breathing on the reg. Couple of suggestions for your pool time:
1. Partially flood your mask and practice breathing off your reg (can even be done out of the water).
2. Partially flood your mask and then swim a bit in the shallow end.
3. Lastly, practice swimming in the shallow end breathing off of the reg without your mask in place. Again, you don't really even have to drop below the surface.
Good luck, and as the others have noted, this is not unusual...you'll get it.
DSAO,
NightDiver