PADI Mask Removal, Replacement and Clearing Skill
The PADI Mask Removal, Replacement and Clearing skill is for some people the hardest skill to complete in the PADI Open Water Diver Course. On the other hand it also gives a great feeling of accomplishment after mastering the PADI Mask Removal, Replacement and Clearing skill.
Some new scuba divers have absolutely no issues with the Mask Removal and Clearing skill, while other struggle a bit controlling breathing through their mouths. The trick is when you remove the mask from your face to breath through your mouth only. Some people get stressed and then they accidentally breath through their nose, resulting in water entering the throat and potential coughing.
Some new scuba divers have absolutely no issues with the Mask Removal and Clearing skill, while other struggle a bit controlling breathing through their mouths. The trick is when you remove the mask from your face to breath through your mouth only. Some people get stressed and then they accidentally breath through their nose, resulting in water entering the throat and potential coughing.
Mask Removal and Replacement performed on the knees
Teaching the Scuba Mask Removal on the Knees or Neutrally Buoyant?
Some Dive Instructors prefer to teach this skill in a more neutral buoyancy position compared to kneeling. We believe that Babies should first learn how to crawl before the walk, and it is maybe a bit more relaxer to learn this skill kneeling and then repeat it later in a neutrally buoyant position. But it depends on many factors and your Dive Instructor can decide. Check out this whole article we wrote about Neutrally Buoyant VS Kneeling.
Mask Removal and Replacement performed neutrally buoyant
There are many different tricks and styles to learn how to Remove Replace and Clear your scuba mask. You PADI Dive Instructor and Divemaster will help you to learn these. If you are a Dive Instructor or Divemaster and you want to learn more on How To Teach The Mask Removal and Replacement than check this article.
Tips for the PADI Mask Removal and Replacement Skill
Tip 1: Stay Calm, the more relax you are, the more easy this skill will be.
Tip 2: Don't overthink it! In the end it's just about breathing in a calm manner through your mouth and when you replace you mask through your nose to clear it.
Tip 3: Just before you take of the scuba mask pretend that you are about to stick your face in the shower, go under in a bath tub or go for a swim. Most of you have done these things and with all of them your face will be enclosed in water. What will you automatic reaction be? To not breath into your nose, this is the same with the PADI Mask Removal, Replacement and Clearing skill. Many scuba divers get stressed because they think that this is new and weird, but many of you have already experienced being enclosed in water before. Actually it's kinda nice in the shower, no?
Tip 4: Do the mask removal and clearing slowly. This will give you time to think about the next step. The steps for this skill are explained below on this page.
Tip 5: Try to see it as a cool skill to instead of a scary one. This will help you to open up for learning the Mask Removal and Replacement skill.
Tip 6: Don't give up! Most people can do the PADI Mask Removal skill in one go, but some people need a bit more tries. This is ok! You got all the time in the world and you will first be practicing this skill in the shallow end of confined water. This means that if anything goes wrong, or you don't like it you can just stand up, easy! Then calm down a bit, think and give it another try. After a few tries (repetition makes perfect) you should get the hang of it. Then when you are comfortable with the PADI Mask Removal, Replacement and Clearing skill you can move onto the next scuba diving skill.
Tip 2: Don't overthink it! In the end it's just about breathing in a calm manner through your mouth and when you replace you mask through your nose to clear it.
Tip 3: Just before you take of the scuba mask pretend that you are about to stick your face in the shower, go under in a bath tub or go for a swim. Most of you have done these things and with all of them your face will be enclosed in water. What will you automatic reaction be? To not breath into your nose, this is the same with the PADI Mask Removal, Replacement and Clearing skill. Many scuba divers get stressed because they think that this is new and weird, but many of you have already experienced being enclosed in water before. Actually it's kinda nice in the shower, no?
Tip 4: Do the mask removal and clearing slowly. This will give you time to think about the next step. The steps for this skill are explained below on this page.
Tip 5: Try to see it as a cool skill to instead of a scary one. This will help you to open up for learning the Mask Removal and Replacement skill.
Tip 6: Don't give up! Most people can do the PADI Mask Removal skill in one go, but some people need a bit more tries. This is ok! You got all the time in the world and you will first be practicing this skill in the shallow end of confined water. This means that if anything goes wrong, or you don't like it you can just stand up, easy! Then calm down a bit, think and give it another try. After a few tries (repetition makes perfect) you should get the hang of it. Then when you are comfortable with the PADI Mask Removal, Replacement and Clearing skill you can move onto the next scuba diving skill.
How to perform the PADI Mask Removal and Replacement skill
1. Take off your mask with the left hand
2. With the right hand take off the strap
3. Then take off the mask and snorkel from your face
4. Make sure that you hold onto it, and you don’t drop it
5. Then make sure the snorkel is on the side and feel the nose pocket
So the mask is not upside down
6. Move the strap away and take your hairs out of the away
7. First, put the mask on your face
8. Then put the strap all around and make sure it is not twisted and the strap is high above your ears
9. Double-check that everything is OK,
10. With two fingers touch the top frame of your mask
11. Breath in through your mouth and out through your nose while gently looking up until all the water is removed from the mask.
Check out the Training Video below. The PADI Mask Removal and Replacement skill in this video is performed from a student level and not Instructor level. If you perform the PADI Mask Removal and Replacement skill the same as in this video, you will meet the performance requirements of the PADI Open Water Diver Course.
2. With the right hand take off the strap
3. Then take off the mask and snorkel from your face
4. Make sure that you hold onto it, and you don’t drop it
5. Then make sure the snorkel is on the side and feel the nose pocket
So the mask is not upside down
6. Move the strap away and take your hairs out of the away
7. First, put the mask on your face
8. Then put the strap all around and make sure it is not twisted and the strap is high above your ears
9. Double-check that everything is OK,
10. With two fingers touch the top frame of your mask
11. Breath in through your mouth and out through your nose while gently looking up until all the water is removed from the mask.
Check out the Training Video below. The PADI Mask Removal and Replacement skill in this video is performed from a student level and not Instructor level. If you perform the PADI Mask Removal and Replacement skill the same as in this video, you will meet the performance requirements of the PADI Open Water Diver Course.
If you want to know how to perform the PADI Scuba Mask Removal Skill in different positions then check this video here:
Having the best scuba mask makes it much more easier to perform a mask removal skill. So what is the best scuba mask for you? Well, that depends on a few factors. What kind of latex and seal do you prefer? A bit of a hard seal or a soft liquid skin seal? What kind of vision do you prefer?
In the beginning I recommend that you choose a mask with a nice soft latex seal, good vision and easy to take off. We highly recommend you to invest in a scuba mask as your first dive equipment piece and already use it on your PADI Open Water Diver Course. Please check out this selection of excellent scuba diving masks:
In the beginning I recommend that you choose a mask with a nice soft latex seal, good vision and easy to take off. We highly recommend you to invest in a scuba mask as your first dive equipment piece and already use it on your PADI Open Water Diver Course. Please check out this selection of excellent scuba diving masks:
Next Skill: Mask Removal and Replacement for 1 Minute
