Tips for Equalizing Mask.

[SPKelpDiver]

Typically when I am freediving off my local shores I am not going any deeper than 30 feet so mask pressure wasn't to much of a problem, however on a trip to Catalina I was experiencing some heavy mask pressure at 40 foot plus. I got as deep as 60 before it was too much. I know that in order to equalize the air space in the mask you must blow into it (duh) but I was to focused on equalizing my ears at the time, and was stoked that they were working for me, because on my previous Catalina trip I couldn't equalize (although it was really just inexperience and not equalizing soon and often enough.) I am pretty sure I am having the same issue with mask equalizing because I wasn't really paying attention to the pressure till it was to much to equalize.. But my question is this. At that depth I really felt the compression in my lungs. Does equalizing your mask with such a small air volume in your lungs cause your dive to be shorter? Any other tips on mask equalization? I am currently using Scubapro frameless mask. It is a pretty low volume mask. Thanks for your time.
Charlie

P.s. I tried using the search function and couldn't find anything related. Sorry if this is a repost.

[Erik]

Hey amigo, welcome.
You need to develop a pattern for alternating equalizing your ears and mask as you descend. Ears are priority, especially the first part of the dive, so what some would do is to wait until they are 20' down or so before letting off on the nose-pinch to blow some air into the mask. Immediately pinch again after that if you are still descending to make sure your ears do not get squeezed. Keep on a similar pattern until you level out.
More air going into the mask means that it is not available for your body, true, but you can't do much about it. It doesn't amount to that much difference- more a problem for equalizing at much greater depths- not so much the O2 available.
Your lungs will squeeze just like your mask, so take days or weeks to improve on your depths... search 'lung squeeze' here to see some of the problems associated with drastic depth increases over short times.

[BennyB]

Hi Charlie,

Welcome to DeeperBlue!

If you're wearing some type of spearing/freedive mask then chances are that it's not a massive volume mask, so any air that you use to equalise it won't be a huge amount for the depths you're diving. I usually keep one hand on my nose the whole time down, and equalise constantly, but every time I feel a bit of pressure from my mask I let go of my nose and sniff out a little air into my mask, then grab my nose and equalise again.

When you equalise the mask don't blow out a lot - if you notice bubbles coming out of your mask then it's too much. If you're blowing out a lot then this could be one explanation for why your chest feels tight at depth, though I think a more reasonable explanation is because you've doubled your depth in a relatively quick time. After a few more dives to that depth your chest will adjust to the pressure. You can try the search function here and look at chest stretching exercises. The other thing is to make sure you get a nice big breath before you dive - i've seen some people take a small breath before a dive (for various reasons including having a tight wetsuit which constricted their inhale) and have felt tight in the chest at reasonably shallow depths.

Hope that helps!

Cheers,
Ben

[BennyB]

Oops, posted the same time as Erik, didn't see his there...

[SPKelpDiver]

I appreciate the advice guys thanks.