Mask squeeze

[scottsax]

I picked up a new mask this weekend. A low volume, single window, XS Scuba (can't remember the model.) It's awesome! It fits my face great and has a good seal. Almost too good, actually. It was very difficult to equalize, and when I woke up this morning, I noticed some broken capillaries around my eyes. I knew I felt bug-eyed!

I'm assuming the same principle for equalizing your ears applies to your mask-early and often. Has anyone else experienced this before? Tips and tricks?

[Penopolypants]

Hm...whenever I feel it tighten I blow out through my nose a little. Are you overtightening your strap? Had you taken anything that might thin your blood a bit, like aspirin?

There was a guy on our boat in PNG that got mask squeeze so bad on his first dive that the entire area under his mask was one big purple bruise and his eyes were completely red. It was awful.

It's also not something that people think about a lot...good topic!

[Nwbrewer]

Wow that sucks! Many years of swim team has me in the habit of exhaling out my nose a lot when underwater, so I've never had an issue. Something to think about for sure. You may want to check the strap,if it's too tight that might not be helping.

[scottsax]

The strap is a good thought. I loosened it from where it was on my head at home, but potentially not enough to accomodate my drysuit hood. Of course, I won't be using a hood for the next week, because I'll be in BONAIRE! \

I'm sorry, I'll be nice, I promise...

[Sounder]

Like Jake, I too exhale though my nose a lot while diving - enough so that my hood has to be "purged" every so often. This keeps my mask nice and loose. The one thing to remember is that the hood filling with air can sometimes move the strap higher on your head so you *could* lose your mask more easily (another reason to practice your mask-off and recovery drills!!).

So try exhaling a bit through your nose and see what happens - clear your ears, then exhale a bit into your mask. That should take care of it.

[scottsax]

I have to say, the second dive yesterday was better. Could just be a learning curve with a new piece of gear, too.

[airsix]

Scott,
My mask has a small nose pocket (in other words I have a big shnoz). If I position the mask too high on my face the bottom of the nose pocket will seal against my nostrils. Then if I descend a few feet it will seal right up and make equalizing the mask difficult - I have to exhale out my nose quite forcefully to break the seal it has made against my nostrils. I've learned where to place the mask on my face so this doesn't happen now. I just have to leave a little room between nostrils and the bottom of the nose pocket. It doesn't take much.

-Ben

[spatman]

Scott,My mask has a small nose pocket (in other words I have a big shnoz).

-Ben

in a side by side comparison, yours is most likely a dainty button compared to my schnoz. i even have the "big honker" model mask from oceanic.

[scottsax]

If I position the mask too high on my face the bottom of the nose pocket will seal against my nostrils. Then if I descend a few feet it will seal right up and make equalizing the mask difficult - I have to exhale out my nose quite forcefully to break the seal it has made against my nostrils. I've learned where to place the mask on my face so this doesn't happen now. I just have to leave a little room between nostrils and the bottom of the nose pocket. It doesn't take much.

-Ben

That's a damn good idea, too. I noticed I was having difficulty exhaling through my nose. I tend to position the mask higher on my face because it seals around my mustache a little better. I'll try moving it down a little, too.

[Sounder]

If I position the mask too high on my face the bottom of the nose pocket will seal against my nostrils. Then if I descend a few feet it will seal right up and make equalizing the mask difficult - I have to exhale out my nose quite forcefully to break the seal it has made against my nostrils. I've learned where to place the mask on my face so this doesn't happen now. I just have to leave a little room between nostrils and the bottom of the nose pocket. It doesn't take much.

-Ben

That's a damn good idea, too. I noticed I was having difficulty exhaling through my nose. I tend to position the mask higher on my face because it seals around my mustache a little better. I'll try moving it down a little, too.

You need to shave yourself a "scuba-stache!" It's about 1/2" of baby-butt smooth shaven skin under your nostrils. It looks rather creepy, but it works!!

[Sounder]

You need to shave yourself a "scuba-stache!" It's about 1/2" of baby-butt smooth shaven skin under your nostrils. It looks rather creepy, but it works!!

If it looks creepy, what exactly is the point? Why have a moustache at all?

"Chicks dig it."

Mrs. Sounder tells me that when I shave my scuba-stache, I look like "Chester."

[Tom Nic]

You need to shave yourself a "scuba-stache!" It's about 1/2" of baby-butt smooth shaven skin under your nostrils. It looks rather creepy, but it works!!

If it looks creepy, what exactly is the point? Why have a moustache at all?

Trust me, you DO NOT want some us here with the dreaded "naked face"...

[Sounder]

You need to shave yourself a "scuba-stache!" It's about 1/2" of baby-butt smooth shaven skin under your nostrils. It looks rather creepy, but it works!!

If it looks creepy, what exactly is the point? Why have a moustache at all?

Trust me, you DO NOT want some us here with the dreaded "naked face"...

Yeah - Tom looks like he's 15 when he shaves his beard off.

[Tangfish]

Now that I control my buoyancy by blowing out my nose, I seldom have "mask face" after dives. I guess that's one advantage.

[scottsax]

Yeah.... I think I'll play around with mask placement before I start messing with the goatee I've finally gotten the hang of grooming (after 15 years...What?! I'm a slow learner, OK?)