Mask Squeeze at what Depth?

[ikravchik]

Hi,

I am just getting my Open Water Certification. Can someone tell me approximately at what depth does mask squeeze become unbearable if you don't equalize it?

The reason I ask is because I swim in the pool using goggles and a nose clip and I love it,- absolutely no water getting into my nose (I like swimming upside down and pretty much in any position imaginable). When I practice with my mask , I always end up getting water up my nose which I absolutely can not stand. Would it be OK for me to dive with a nose clip if I am going to stay under 18/60ft?

(If you will recommend getting a new mask I use prescription lenses so my selection is limited)

Thanks

 

[FreeRestriction]

Hi,

I am just getting my Open Water Certification. Can someone tell me approximately at what depth does mask squeeze become unbearable if you don't equalize it?

The reason I ask is because I swim in the pool using goggles and a nose clip and I love it,- absolutely no water getting into my nose (I like swimming upside down and pretty much in any position imaginable). When I practice with my mask , I always end up getting water up my nose which I absolutely can not stand. Would it be OK for me to dive with a nose clip if I am going to stay under 18/60ft?

(If you will recommend getting a new mask I use prescription lenses so my selection is limited)

Thanks

How is water going up your nose with a mask but not goggles? ... there should be no water in your mask so how is water going up your nose? every mask is different. depends on a few things like mask volume and compressability of the mask.

 

[ikravchik]

How is water going up your nose with a mask but not goggles? ...

My Original post: The reason I ask is because I swim in the pool using goggles and a nose clip ...

 

[ikravchik]

... there should be no water in your mask so how is water going up your nose? .

Ideally YES, - there should be no water in my mask, but there is. Quite frankly the way masks skirts are designed is that unless you swim absolutely still without moving your head water will in fact get in where the nose is, - that thin layer of silicone is not enough.

So to repeat my original question: Would it be OK to dive with a nose clip if I am going to stay under 18/60ft?

Thanks

 

[FreeRestriction]

Ideally YES, - there should be no water in my mask, but there is. Quite frankly the way masks skirts are designed is that unless you swim absolutely still without moving your head water will in fact get in where the nose is, - that thin layer of silicone is not enough.

So to repeat my original question: Would it be OK to dive with a nose clip if I am going to stay under 18/60ft?

Thanks

to repeat my answer to your question it depends on what mask. i must equalize my m99 at 10m. perhaps there is a mask that can go that deep without injuring you but i dont know what mask that may be. i can swim all around without leaking water. either your mask dosent fit well or your mustache stubbles leaking the mask.

 

[ikravchik]

Thanks,

You must have a good mask. I am nearsighted so I bought the:
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Promate-Nearsight-Corrective-Snorkeling-Nearsight-3-0/dp/B004NVWYW4/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1342025186&sr=8-6&keywords=prescription+scuba+mask"]Amazon.com: Promate Nearsight Optical Corrective Scuba Snorkeling Mask: Sports & Outdoors@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41qsmpoZjfL.@@AMEPARAM@@41qsmpoZjfL[/ame]

I will shave my mustache and see if that will improve.

 

[Simos]

Hi Ikravchik

a few things that might help:

1. Your question about the mask is really not what you should be asking since you are basically wanting to know if you can dive to those depths using goggles and noseclip. You should be asking about goggles... and the answer does depend on the goggles, with some specific types (like the aquasphere seal) you *might* be able to get near 18m and just burst an eye capillary but in short, you shouldn't go to those depths with goggles.

Most swimming goggles are depth rated to 2m only - if they fit well you might be able to take them a bit deeper without feeling the pressure but you should be careful. They might even break if you take them deep and/or will give you a mask squeeze.

2. Just to answer also the question on masks - the freediving masks that are very low volume claim they can be taken to 18m without needing equalisation. I am not familiar with the mask you have but being a scuba mask, it will be higher volume and will need equalisation at a mask shallower depth than 18m.

3. I am assuming that you will be scuba diving and not freediving? If yes, you have all the air in the world, you should really equalise the mask all the time. This also helps in clearing any water from the mask anyway. I take it you know how to clear the mask right?

4. Shaving the mustache should help the mask to seal - if you don't want to shave it, maybe try putting vaseline on it before you dive and see if it helps. You probably won't get a perfect seal though unless you trim it a lot.

5. If you will be diving often, it's really worth investing in a mask that fits your face well and doesn't leak - there is nothing more annoying (at least for me) than an ill-fitting mask. There are some people (usually very experienced) that don't seem to be bothered at all if half their mask is full of water most of the time but I am not one of them. However what you say about all masks leaking couldn't be further from the truth - in fact I'm sure if you try a few different masks on you'll find one that fits your face (I'm assuming you know how to test if it seals properly, if not let me know).

Hope this helps a bit. In summary, don't dive with goggles and the noseclip, it's not safe.

 

[ikravchik]

Hi Ikravchik

a few things that might help:

1. Your question about the mask is really not what you should be asking since you are basically wanting to know if you can dive to those depths using goggles and noseclip. You should be asking about goggles... and the answer does depend on the goggles, with some specific types (like the aquasphere seal) you *might* be able to get near 18m and just burst an eye capillary but in short, you shouldn't go to those depths with goggles.

Most swimming goggles are depth rated to 2m only - if they fit well you might be able to take them a bit deeper without feeling the pressure but you should be careful. They might even break if you take them deep and/or will give you a mask squeeze.

2. Just to answer also the question on masks - the freediving masks that are very low volume claim they can be taken to 18m without needing equalisation. I am not familiar with the mask you have but being a scuba mask, it will be higher volume and will need equalisation at a mask shallower depth than 18m.

3. I am assuming that you will be scuba diving and not freediving? If yes, you have all the air in the world, you should really equalise the mask all the time. This also helps in clearing any water from the mask anyway. I take it you know how to clear the mask right?

4. Shaving the mustache should help the mask to seal - if you don't want to shave it, maybe try putting vaseline on it before you dive and see if it helps. You probably won't get a perfect seal though unless you trim it a lot.

5. If you will be diving often, it's really worth investing in a mask that fits your face well and doesn't leak - there is nothing more annoying (at least for me) than an ill-fitting mask. There are some people (usually very experienced) that don't seem to be bothered at all if half their mask is full of water most of the time but I am not one of them. However what you say about all masks leaking couldn't be further from the truth - in fact I'm sure if you try a few different masks on you'll find one that fits your face (I'm assuming you know how to test if it seals properly, if not let me know).

Hope this helps a bit. In summary, don't dive with goggles and the noseclip, it's not safe.

Hi,

Thanks a lot for a very thorough answer.

I guess I was not very clear with my original question, I'll explain:
Because I would always get water in the nose using my scuba mask I figured I could wear my nose clip under it. The mask fits on top of the clip, and my nose is free of water, - the only thing that concerns me is that I would be unable to equalize my mask by breathing out the nose. That lead me to my initial question: How deep can you go without equalizing the mask?

I'll do the following things first: 1) Get rid of facial hair 2) See if mask leak improves.

I really wish there would be a much bigger selection of masks with diopters, so I could actually find the one I like, not just the one that's available. (diving with contacts is not an option for me)

 

[FreeRestriction]

yeah i think the key is for you to correct the issue with mask leakage.that way you can dive normally. no need to throw crazy variables into freediving.

 

[ikravchik]

yeah i think the key is for you to correct the issue with mask leakage.that way you can dive normally. no need to throw crazy variables into freediving.

Crazy variables? Freediving?
I don't know how "crazy" a nose clip is, in my opinion not so much. I intend to do scuba.

 

[Simos]

Hmmm not convinced I wouldn't do it. Are you going to be on scuba?

Even if the clip would work and you didn't get squeeze, by blocking your nose you will lose the ability to clear the water out of the mask, which for a leaking mask especially is essential. Otherwise you'll end up with a mask full of water and you might as well not be wearing a mask at all and just go with the noseclip lol

As mentioned, the low volume masks that are compressible e.g. Sphera, Omer zero 3 and a couple of others that are even better can go up to 18m or so. Your mask will probably need equalising a lot before that though - what depth i can't say as it depends on many things but bottomline is that you'll be definitely risking a mask squeeze.

My 2p is not to try to find complicated solutions to simple problems - just get a good fitting mask, learn to clear any water and equalise the mask properly - you'll enjoy it a lot more.

Regarding masks - I might be wrong but there might be some 'stickers' you can stick to correct vision (probably not good). Otherwise I know there are masks (eg mares) that you can even remove the lenses and replace with custom made prescription ones, unfortunately it doesn't come cheap.

Try shaving first - it might just do the trick

 

[FreeRestriction]

Crazy variables? Freediving?
I don't know how "crazy" a nose clip is, in my opinion not so much. I intend to do scuba.

well as simos said your over complicating things. your mask is leaking so you want to do away with mask equalization all together to keep water out of your nose. dont try to reinvent the wheel just correct the problem.

 

[omega3]

Don't do it.
Mask squeeze, see Boyls law. Even 1m with enough time. Around 4-5m I get uncomfortable, short term but that is me.
What you will find will happen with any mask squeeze over time is it draws blood into the eyes leaving them looking horrific and damages the blood vessels. Takes a few weeks or more to clear up.
Get a prescription mask that fits and as said before shave. If you are out of prescription range, wont use contacts etc then you may consider surgery.
Squeeze is not something you should be accomodating while diving.

 

[andycornish]

Just a small saftey/dive enjoyment point, you can wear goggles when diving. BUT main problem is if you get water in them/they steam up you have no way to fix it.

You cant clear goggles as they have no nose piece, which means when someone else decides to kick you in the face with their fins (if it has not happened to you it will at some point!) and your masks floods you have no way of clearing it!

Which at shallow depth would not be too much of an issue if you are happy for your buddy to take you to the surface, but it does cut your dive short and you can guarentee it would happen on a really nice dive.

Otherwise you can buy 'freediving' goggles which have special lenses in which mean you fill them with mineral water and you can see as the lenses correct your vision, also you would get no 'mask squeeze' as there is no air to compress.

 

[Simos]

Just a small saftey/dive enjoyment point, you can wear goggles when diving. BUT main problem is if you get water in them/they steam up you have no way to fix it.

You cant clear goggles as they have no nose piece, which means when someone else decides to kick you in the face with their fins (if it has not happened to you it will at some point!) and your masks floods you have no way of clearing it!

Which at shallow depth would not be too much of an issue if you are happy for your buddy to take you to the surface, but it does cut your dive short and you can guarentee it would happen on a really nice dive.

Otherwise you can buy 'freediving' goggles which have special lenses in which mean you fill them with mineral water and you can see as the lenses correct your vision, also you would get no 'mask squeeze' as there is no air to compress.

I haven't seen many people I wearing goggles during diving (in fact none). Wouldn't waste money on fluid goggles either for scuba...

 

[andycornish]

I haven't seen many people I wearing goggles during diving (in fact none). Wouldn't waste money on fluid goggles either for scuba...

I agree with you, just wanted to give him all the different options, personally I highly doubt I would dive with someone wearing goggles other than in a swimming pool, if something happens to me (narcosis, major equipment failure or any type of DCI) and my buddy has goggles which could get knocked off then he is could become to be less than useful !