Mask Clearing and Regain Control Without Panic

Mask clearing is one of the first skills divers learn. But for many, it never becomes truly comfortable. A flooded mask can trigger stress, rapid breathing, and even full-blown panic. Worse, most divers don’t practice it enough after certification to stay sharp.

This guide walks through how to clear your mask smoothly, stay calm while doing it, and regain control even if your mask gets fully kicked off. It also covers why this skill breaks down for many divers—including my own experience struggling with it, even after 100 dives.

Why Mask Clearing is a Critical Underwater Skill

• Fogging, leaking, or dislodgement are common and unavoidable
• Visibility loss and water up your nose are major stress triggers
• If you can’t fix your mask mid-dive, you may abort the dive unnecessarily
• Clearing under control builds confidence, control, and resilience

The Physiology: Why It Feels So Uncomfortable

• Mask floods stimulate the nasal passages, which can trigger a gag or panic reflex
• Water may flow toward your eyes or nose unexpectedly
• Cold water, mask squeeze, or contact lenses can amplify discomfort
• Anxiety increases CO₂ retention, making it harder to stay calm
• The instinct to breathe through your nose can cause choking or coughing underwater

Proper Mask Clearing Technique

• Press the top frame of the mask gently against your forehead
• Tilt your head slightly up - you do not need to be vertical!
• Exhale gently through your nose only, not your mouth
• Keep exhaling until all water is gone
• Maintain slow, calm breathing throughout. Don’t rush to inhale immediately
• Practice this while hovering, not kneeling

This technique relies on air pressure, not brute force. Pulling the skirt or pressing the bottom often makes it worse by breaking the seal too early.

My Struggle: The Mouth-Nose Breathing Problem

I still struggle with mask clearing, because I sometimes subconsciously blow out through both my mouth and nose at the same time. That means I don’t build enough pressure inside the mask to fully force water out. The worst part is I often don’t realize I’m doing it wrong until the water is still sloshing around and I feel frustrated mid-dive. It’s one of those “simple” skills that reveals whether you’re really in control or just going through the motions.

Full Flood and Mask Removal

Sometimes your mask gets kicked off or floods completely. Here’s how to handle that calmly:

• Pause and breathe slowly through your regulator
• Keep your eyes closed if water exposure causes stress
• Retrieve or replace your mask (one of the reasons I carry a backup mask)
• Check for hair or hood in the skirt
• Place the mask firmly, press the top, and exhale gently through your nose
• Regain trim and neutral buoyancy before moving on

Don’t rush. The key is staying calm while “blind” and trusting your breathing until you can see again.

Practice Strategies

• Start in calm, shallow water
• Practice small leaks before full floods
• Clear while hovering in trim, not kneeling
• Add mask clears into your safety stop routine
• Practice removing and replacing your mask once per dive
• Ask a buddy to film you for feedback, especially if something feels off