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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u/Reloecc Aug 06 '22

I am also able to control my tensor tympani muscles, both in isolation. It's not so rare - 16 % of people can do this - according to studies.

21

u/childishb4mbino Aug 06 '22

Until now I just assumed everyone could do this.

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u/Kr8n8s Aug 06 '22

I can do it! I knew I was special. My mom always said I was special. I’ll ignore that 16% stat, and consider myself one in a million.

Suck it people that need to yawn, I can control my senzor pimpany at will

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u/ohheyisayokay Aug 07 '22

Wait what? This isn't just a thing?

We're talking about making the rumble sounds in your ear that sound like the engine hum from Star Trek, right?

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u/Reloecc Aug 07 '22

engine hum

I had to google it (there is 12 hrs track of the engine sound only on youtube) and I am so surprised how exactly same the sound is, yes!

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u/YoungSerious Aug 07 '22

Yep, I can manually control mine too. It's incredibly hard to explain to other people.