At what depth is a mask needed over goggles?

[andrewwl]

Question :t

 

[sickbugs]

for me, about 10 feet, if we are talking about normal goggles.

 

[rslomkow]

Generally it is reccomended at -3m (-10feet) that is 1 atmosphere of pressure in the wrong direction. I most definetly get squeeze at -5m (-16.4feet), but not so much to be really dangerous (assuming you don't have goggle that slide into your eye-socket - with those you are only good to about -2m (-6.6feet))

-6m (-20feet), you may have problems with your eyes!!! That is 2 atmospheres of pressure in the wrong direction, and will get swollen eyes or worse!:rcard (eyeball squieezed out, strain on optic nerve, blood vessels popping in the eye)

There are some pretty nice swimming masks, and low-volume masks out there, so you get the nose pocket. Or if you really want to have fun, make yourself a pair of pipe goggles http://forums.deeperblue.net/showthread.php?t=64825&highlight=mouth

Then you can have both small and dive deep.

 

[trux]

Generally correct, just a small note about the pressures - it is 10 meters of water that is equivalent to the presure of 1 bar (1 athmosphere), not 10 feet! Still the depths limits for squeeze as mentioned by rslomkow are correct anyway.

 

[Gerald]

Being totally aware that there needs to be a connection between the eyes and the nose and/or mouth (such as in a diving mask or even pipemask) I have tried to find out my goggle limit.

During my vacations in Grado/Italy where the sea is very flat and shallow I like to swim out very far. At the turning point I dive to the bottom with goggles and Diving Computer (D3). Thus getting the depth helps me to figure out my distance from shore. So far I have done 7.5 Meters with my goggles on - no pain, no injuries! But that's about the absolute limit.

With goggles on I would never dare to go deeper than 8 Meters. It also depends on the type of the goggles, though. Some are more elastic than others.

There have been days where I have swum out much further and where I had to take off my goggles first in order to reach the bottom. But "free face" diving (no goggle, no mask, no noseclip) is a complete other subject, it would be nice to start a thread about it.

 

[Ricochet]

There is a canal that connects the eyes and the nose. I wonder if anyone has been able to equalize the goggles through that canal

Edit: Sorry, Gerald. Didn't read our post

 

[trux]

I often manage to blow air through the eyes when blowing my nose on surface, but did not manage to do it underwater - the ears get overpressurized before the air goes through the eye tube.

 

[ctswm711]

Ever tried fluid goggles? They have a corrective lens in them, you fill them with saline and the lens corrects your vision thru the fluid back to 20/20. can dive as deep as you like with them.

 

[Gerald]

fluid goggles

Fluid goggles: Yes I have tried them for my free immersion training in Dahab this summer! I really liked it!

Besides that, I bought a noseclip at a swim accessory shop for a couple of bucks that are tight enough to use them with freehand equalization. So far I been down to 10m with them, without mask or goggle and not a single drop of water getting into my nose.