I'd like to know some details on breathing the small amount of air in the mask. When to do it, how much air you actually get, any difficulties associated with this, pros vs cons etc.
Breathing air from the mask
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How do you get any air from in there? I could only do that on the way up when it expands, otherwise I'm blowing air into the mask.
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Jim,
he does mean on the way up. I am also curious as to what benefits this has. -
I've tried to suck it in a couple times because I thought the escaping air was letting water in and making noise. I think this was only in about 40ft of water though. I don't think I got enough air to actually enter my lungs. It was also pretty uncomfortable, but I guess you could get used to that.
I'm interested to know, but I'm thinking it's not very useful.
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I'm thinking if anything it will have more of a psychological aspect to it.
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When you dive deep, lets say, more than 50 feet, you have to blow some air into the mask in order to avoid the vacuum to suck your eyeballs out. When you are ascending, this air expands againg and if you don't breath it in again, goes out from the mask and is waste air.
It is not a huge amount of air, but is SOME fresh air that goes into your lungs (and brain) when they need it most.This is one of the "small" secrets I have learned over the years that in addition to others make you a better freediver.
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How do you know when the air starts expanding and before it starts escaping? Can you inhale some water into your nose doing this or will the mask seal first?
Well, maybe it's easier to do it than to explain it...
If a mask fits good, there's no reason to have water into it, right? Unless you didn't shave that day.
So when I start ascendiing I do some vacuum (not too much since is not that big volume of air) and let the air that is expanding in the mask into my lungs. Probably is like 100 cc of air but is something. And yes, the mask is sealed against your face.
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Thanks Marco. I will try this next time diving. If I drown you can have my mask
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You can always put me in your will.....
Seriously, step by step. Try it easy, not in extreme conditions. You will notice some difference. Then it will come automatically
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Is this one of the reasons you like a mask with more volume?
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Yes, it's an old concept
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Hard hat freediving?...hmmmm!!:puertorico:
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I'm thinking since CO2 is heavier than air and your body is pointing down as you descend you are filling the mask with mainly CO2.
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When you are descending all you have in your lungs is (almost) fresh air. Just try it in your next dive
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This also reminds me of those really old masks that had a rubber type inflater(like the ones for taking blood pressure) attached to it.
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Yeah, I've never seen one "alive", but the purpose was to equalize the vacuum in the mask since they didn't had the shape to pinch your nose.
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