Overview
Masks can become uncomfortable after a while, especially if you’re wearing one for an extended period of time. And if you’re someone who usually wears glasses, you know that finding a good fit can be even more challenging. Luckily, you don’t always need a mask to enjoy the underwater world. In fact, diving without a mask can be freeing and empowering!
Of course, diving without a mask is only for experienced divers who are comfortable in the water and have good control over their breathing. If you’re not confident in your ability to keep your breathing steady, then a mask is probably a good idea. But if you’re interested in giving it a try, here are some tips to help you get started.
Health Risks
While scuba diving without a mask may seem like a freeing and exhilarating experience, it can actually be very dangerous. Without a mask, you are not only at risk of inhaling water, but also of contracting an infection. There have been cases of people dying from both aspiration pneumonia and secondary drowning after diving without a mask.
In addition, diving without a mask can increase your risk of decompression sickness. This is because the mask helps to equalize the pressure inside and outside of your lungs. Without a mask, the pressure inside your lungs can become too high, leading to serious health complications.
If you do choose to dive without a mask, it is important to be aware of the risks involved. Make sure to take all necessary precautions to ensure your safety.
Dangers
While scuba diving without a mask may seem like a cool and extreme way to diving, it is actually incredibly dangerous and not something that should be attempted by anyone, even experienced divers. Without a mask, you not only lose the ability to see clearly underwater but also put yourself at risk of losing air and drowning. In addition, without a mask it is difficult to equalize the pressure in your ears, which can lead to pain and even injury.
Precautions
When diving without a mask, it is important to take some precautions to ensure your safety.
First, be sure to choose a dive site that is appropriate for your skill level. If you are not an experienced diver, it is best to choose a site with calm waters and good visibility.
Second, be sure to have a dive partner with you. This will help ensure your safety in case of an emergency.
Third, be sure to practice No Mask Breathing (NMB) before diving without a mask. This will help you get used to breathing without a mask and help prevent panicking if water enters your mouth while diving.
Fourth, if you begin to feel panicked or uncomfortable while diving without a mask, signal to your dive partner and ascend to the surface slowly and safely.
Training
Divers must be able to equalize the pressure in their middle ears as they descend in order to avoid damage to their hearing and other ear-related problems. To do this, they must be able to “clear” their ears – that is, get rid of the air bubbles that build up in the middle ear cavity as the water pressure increases.
Certification
There are many scuba diving certification organizations, but most agencies that offer scuba diving instruction adhere to similar standards. In general, to be certified as a scuba diver, you must be at least 10 years old and able to swim 200 yards (183 m) and float for 10 minutes unassisted. You must also be in good health, with no medical conditions that would prevent you from safely participating in scuba diving activities.
Most scuba diving certification agencies offer instruction in both open-water (sea or lake) and confined-water (pool) environments. Open-water certification requires successful completion of both classroom and practical examinations, as well as a minimum number of logged dives. Confined-water certification may only require successful completion of practical examinations.
Once you have completed the requirements for certification, you will be issued a card that indicates your level of training and ability. You will need to present this card whenever you rent scuba diving equipment or go on a dive trip with a professional dive center or operator.