Costa Brava Scuba Diving

Sometime when you’re on a dive you’ll find that it hasn’t sealed properly against your face, allowing water to enter. While this usually doesn’t cause any immediate risk to the diver, it is irritating and can be the simple difference between a dive and a great dive.

It is simple to clear your mask underwater and is one of the first skills your instructor will teach you when you take scuba lessons; part of the PADI Open Water certification is to remove your mask completely while underwater, replace it and clear your mask.

All you need to do is hold the top of your mask with both hands; tip your head back slightly and breathe out firmly through your nose - your mask should clear even if completely full of water.

If you do have troubles with water entering your mask while on a dive it is sometimes worthwhile settling on the bottom - if convenient to do so - and remove it completely. The usual reason I have experienced is the skirt of the mask overlapping my hood, so this is something to check, but it can also be caused if you have long hair which is stopping your mask from sealing properly.