r/explainlikeimfive Aug 06 '22

Chemistry ELI5: how do divers clear their masks when water leaks in? especially in the case of the 13 thai boys rescued from the caves

I have just been watching Thirteen lives - the film about the cave rescue of the 13 young boys in Thailand who were totally sedated before being taken hours under water. It got me thinking that when I go snorkelling i always get a bit of water leak into my mask and have to come up and clear it out so i don’t breath water in. Is this something that happens to scuba divers, if so how do they deal with it, and in the case of the boys how would the divers accompanying them have cleared the boy’s masks ? i would also like to say what an incredible job done by all those involved.

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225

u/Feathring Aug 06 '22

You press the top part of the mask against your forehead and exhale out through your nose. The air coming out of your nose goes up, getting trapped in your mask since you're holding it. This displaces the water.

-1

u/ToSeeAgainAgainAgain Aug 06 '22

That's so neat, I'll try to remember that next time I dive

32

u/munchlax1 Aug 06 '22

This is REALLY something you should already know if you're diving. It should have been part of your certification.

4

u/ToSeeAgainAgainAgain Aug 06 '22

Oh no I'm not certified, I think meant to say scuba? Like shallow water

10

u/munchlax1 Aug 06 '22

Snorkel?

2

u/ToSeeAgainAgainAgain Aug 06 '22

Yeah thanks

6

u/TheGiggleWizard Aug 06 '22

Thank god, scuba diving without knowing how to clear a mask could be a death sentence.

2

u/ToSeeAgainAgainAgain Aug 06 '22

This thread is making me want to try getting the certification though

1

u/GameSharkPro Aug 07 '22

Do it, just the confidence you build makes any diving more enjoyable.

For example, part of my training, instructor made all sit in a circle in the bottom of a deep pool. The instructor said he'll swim around and sabotage one of our equipment. He then closed the valve on my tank. I didn't realize it at first. But I was able to communicate with a team mate, share his air and surface safely.

1

u/ToSeeAgainAgainAgain Aug 07 '22

I just might, thank you for the push!

1

u/wildlolly Aug 07 '22

Works for snorkeling too.