The Mask Squeeze Page
It is almost impossible to find a good photograph of a mask squeeze for obvious reasons so when my friend Lester suffered a mask squeeze I thought it would help if other divers could learn from it.
Please feel free to use the photographs for training and educational purposes only. Commercial use is not permitted. If you find them useful please let me know - and where you are in the world. Email us here.
Please feel free to use the photographs for training and educational purposes only. Commercial use is not permitted. If you find them useful please let me know - and where you are in the world. Email us here.
Mask Squeeze - A Timely Reminder
I was boat diving off Los Gigantes Tenerife in late January. I decended normally dive but had to resurface as my buddy had problems. I saw him safely back on board then descended again to meet the divemaster (my instructor) who was waiting at the anchor at 15 metres. I felt I should hurry as we were to do some tasks for my Advanced Open Water qualification.
I descended too fast with big gaps between equalising. I soon realised that my ears were not clearing and tried too hard to clear them. I was concentrating so much on doing this that I did not notice the mask squeeze begin. It seemed like the mask suddenly gave way and collapsed into my face. After what was probably only 30 seconds I went back up the anchor line maybe 3-4 metres, cleared my ears and exhaled through my nose to adjust the pressure in my mask. After that the dive was fine.
On surfacing I had a slight nose bleed but that was all. The real impact of what had happened became clear as the day went on but when I woke up the next morning the face that greeted me in the bathroom mirror was pretty scary. My eyes were completely bloodshot with no whites at all and the eyelids and surrounding area looked like I had gone 2 rounds with Mike Tyson. You can see in the photograph that bruising to my face has faded after 5 days but the eyes themselves still look like I am auditioning for a part in a sci fi movie. I have been wearing dark glasses all the time (even at night) as my appearance scares people!
I did dive again on the trip and completed my AOW. I did learn a big lesson and in future I will descend in a more controlled way. I will equalise regularly and , although men are not supposed to be able to do this, try to do two things at once - adjust my mask pressure and equalise my ears at the same time.
The optician tells me there is no damage and the blood in my eyes will fade so it could have been worse. I have learned a very valuable lesson though.
You may copy and use this photograph for training and educational purposes provided that acknowledgement is given to Lester Quayle and Rita Barton.
Photograph is copyright, Rita Barton.
Lester Quayle
I descended too fast with big gaps between equalising. I soon realised that my ears were not clearing and tried too hard to clear them. I was concentrating so much on doing this that I did not notice the mask squeeze begin. It seemed like the mask suddenly gave way and collapsed into my face. After what was probably only 30 seconds I went back up the anchor line maybe 3-4 metres, cleared my ears and exhaled through my nose to adjust the pressure in my mask. After that the dive was fine.
On surfacing I had a slight nose bleed but that was all. The real impact of what had happened became clear as the day went on but when I woke up the next morning the face that greeted me in the bathroom mirror was pretty scary. My eyes were completely bloodshot with no whites at all and the eyelids and surrounding area looked like I had gone 2 rounds with Mike Tyson. You can see in the photograph that bruising to my face has faded after 5 days but the eyes themselves still look like I am auditioning for a part in a sci fi movie. I have been wearing dark glasses all the time (even at night) as my appearance scares people!
I did dive again on the trip and completed my AOW. I did learn a big lesson and in future I will descend in a more controlled way. I will equalise regularly and , although men are not supposed to be able to do this, try to do two things at once - adjust my mask pressure and equalise my ears at the same time.
The optician tells me there is no damage and the blood in my eyes will fade so it could have been worse. I have learned a very valuable lesson though.
You may copy and use this photograph for training and educational purposes provided that acknowledgement is given to Lester Quayle and Rita Barton.
Photograph is copyright, Rita Barton.
Lester Quayle
Strange Looks
Marcy from Chicago was kind enough to send this photograph in.
Marcy says:
"Thanks for your article! It has put my mind at ease. I hadn't been diving in 3 or 4 years and sure enough, I was too preoccupied with my rental BC that I didn't realize that my mask was too tight. My Florida dive buddies reassured me that it was nothing to worry about, but now that I'm back in Chicago, all the strange looks I get has made me a bit nervous."
Thank for the photo Marcy.
Marcy says:
"Thanks for your article! It has put my mind at ease. I hadn't been diving in 3 or 4 years and sure enough, I was too preoccupied with my rental BC that I didn't realize that my mask was too tight. My Florida dive buddies reassured me that it was nothing to worry about, but now that I'm back in Chicago, all the strange looks I get has made me a bit nervous."
Thank for the photo Marcy.