How to Clear a Scuba Mask Underwater

Flooding and clearing a scuba mask underwater is a fundamental skill for all divers. This skill enables divers to rinse debris from inside their mask or defog a mask without aborting a dive. Being able to clear a mask reinforces familiarity with personal gear, continuous breathing from the regulator and controlled deliberate movements, in order to avoid underwater emergencies. Many divers practice this skill so that it becomes second nature and experienced divers can clear their mask without a pause in their swimming.

Things You'll Need

• Complete scuba gear (mask, BCD, scuba tank, regulator set up, weights, exposure suit, fins)
• Water environment (e.g., ocean, lake, pool)
• Optional: dive buddy

Instructions

1. Enter the water and descend safely (with your regulator in your mouth) to a calm location. If desired, have your buddy keep you vertically steady by holding your tank.

2. Breath normally through your regulator, close your eyes (if desired) and release the mask suction by pulling the top center of the silicone mask skirt away from your face to allow water to trickle in and fill your mask. Release the mask skirt when your mask is filled with water.

3. Continue breathing normally through your regulator and push the top center of the mask (plastic, not silicone skirt) gently against your forehead.

4. Continue breathing normally through your regulator and move your chin up, like you're looking at something overhead. Important note: If you have a purge mask with vents at the bottom of the nose pocket, look straight ahead or look slightly downwards (i.e., tip your chin down slightly).

5. Inhale through the regulator (mouth) and exhale slowly through your nose. Check whether you feel water exiting from the bottom of the mask as it's displaced by air.

6. Move your chin down to normal position and slowly open your eyes. If you observe water still present in your mask, repeat steps 3 to 5.

Tips & Warnings

• If water persists in your mask after several clearing attempts, check your mask position to make sure that the nose pocket is not obstructed (i.e., the mask is placed slightly higher on the face and needs to be shifted down for the nose pocket to be cleared). Also check around the mask skirt to make sure it is flush against your skin (e.g., not folded or hair is not tucked in the skirt).

• Always keep your regulator in your mouth while underwater.

• Safe diving practices include diving with a certified scuba buddy or dive professional.

References

• The Scuba Site: How to Clear water From Your Scuba Mask
• Scuba Diving Tips: How to Clear Your Dive Mask and Mouthpiece
• Dive Training Magazine: Scuba Skills-Mastering Mask Removal and Replacement