Tips for Beginning Dive Instructors

Tips for Beginning Dive Instructors: Mastering Mask Skills with Ease

Tips for Beginning Dive Instructors

Mask skills are often among the most challenging for scuba diving students to master. These skills, which include clearing a partially or fully flooded mask, can provoke anxiety and fear in many divers, often more so than other scuba skills. However, there are effective techniques to help students overcome these fears and master mask skills with confidence. Here are some tips for beginning dive instructors to facilitate this process.

Understanding the Diving Reflex

When humans are born, they possess a natural response known as the “diving reflex” or “bradycardic response.” This reflex, common to many mammals, causes infants to hold their breath and open their eyes when submerged in water. This response helps them survive underwater for short periods. While this reflex diminishes as we grow older, it’s useful for instructors to remind students that their bodies are naturally equipped to handle water in a calm and controlled manner.

Surface Practice: Building Confidence

At Oceans 5 Gili Air, we start mask skill training at the surface of the pool where students feel safe and comfortable. Standing on the bottom of the pool, students can practice taking off their mask and putting their face in the water with a regulator in their mouth. This surface practice helps them get used to the sensation of water on their face without the added pressure of being fully submerged.

1. Initial Surface Exercise: Have students stand in the shallow end of the pool with water just covering their face while they breathe through their regulator. They can choose to keep their eyes open or closed. This exercise mimics the diving reflex and helps reduce the likelihood of inhaling water through the nose, as their brain adjusts to the sensation.

2. Gradual Immersion: Once students are comfortable with their face in the water, gradually introduce them to submerging more of their head. This slow approach helps build confidence and reduces fear associated with mask removal and clearing.

Shallow Water Practice: Mastering Mask Clearing

After mastering the surface exercise, move to the shallow part of the pool where students can stand comfortably with their heads above water. Here, they can practice partial mask clearing underwater.

1. Controlled Mask Filling: Teach students to fill their mask with water from the bottom edge rather than the top. By allowing water to enter from the bottom, they can control the amount of water entering the mask, making it less likely to become fully flooded and overwhelming.

2. Clearing the Mask: Once the mask is partially filled, guide students through the process of clearing it by tilting their head back and exhaling through their nose. Reinforce the importance of staying calm and moving slowly.

Reinforcing Confidence and Calmness

Throughout the training, continuously reinforce the importance of remaining calm and moving at their own pace. Encourage students to take breaks if they feel overwhelmed and remind them that it’s normal to feel apprehensive at first. Positive reinforcement and patience are key to helping students build confidence in their abilities.

Integrating Environmental Awareness

At Oceans 5 Gili Air, we integrate environmental philosophy into all our scuba diving courses. Emphasizing the importance of buoyancy control and minimal environmental impact goes hand in hand with teaching mask skills. By mastering buoyancy and mask skills, divers can enjoy the underwater world more responsibly and safely.

Advanced Training

For students who need extra help or wish to further refine their skills, consider offering specialized courses such as the Peak Performance Buoyancy Specialty. This course can help divers achieve better control and confidence underwater, making mask skills and other scuba techniques easier to manage.

Conclusion

Mastering mask skills is a fundamental part of becoming a competent diver. By using these techniques to help students overcome their fears and build confidence, beginning dive instructors can ensure that their students are well-prepared for their underwater adventures. With patience, practice, and positive reinforcement, instructors can make the learning process enjoyable and effective, setting their students up for success in their diving journeys. At Oceans 5 Gili Air, our commitment to high-quality teaching and innovative training methods helps new divers develop the skills they need to dive safely and confidently.