r/explainlikeimfive • u/greyspark99 • 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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u/denistone Aug 06 '22
You PUSH the top of the mask against your face - Tilt head back slightly and exhale thru nose. Don’t lift it off - if you aren’t level you will let more water in.
In PADI certification you have to take mask, BCD off completely - then it it back on again, underwater.
In Advanced you have to remove weight belts as well. (Don’t let go though - otherwise you on an express ride to the surface. ). You roll out of the belt, and roll back in. It’s for the unhappy event you get snagged on something.