The Foggy Scuba Mask That Almost Ended My Diving | The Denver Diver
A foggy scuba mask nearly made Trista quit learning to dive. Her story of fear, asking for help, and finding the confidence to decide for herself.
I wanted an adventure around my fortieth birthday. Before I could discover whether I loved diving, I had to get past the fear—and a mask that wouldn’t stay clear. Trista’s story | Interview and editing by Brian Thomas | The Denver Diver Around my fortieth birthday, I wanted to do something adventurous. Brian, my boyfriend then and my husband now, loved scuba diving, and I wanted to experience something with him that was unlike anything I had ever done. This would be our first vacation together, and diving was something he was excited to show me. I chose to do my classroom and pool training here in Denver, then complete my open-water dives in the warmer water of Mexico. When learning to dive became overwhelming In the pool, I had trouble understanding what was happening. The water was warm, I was nervous, and my mask kept fogging. I didn’t know whether the problem was the mask, the conditions, or something I was doing. What I did know was that if I couldn’t see, I felt like I couldn’t breathe. Not being able to see what was happening around me seemed to throw everything else off, and I kept coming back to the surface. That made learning the skills difficult. The instructor would explain something above water, but once we went under, I couldn’t clearly see the demonstration. I was training alongside a family whose members had tried resort dives before, and they seemed to know what to expect. I didn’t. When the assistant instructor had to pull me aside, tell me to calm down and show me a skill again, I felt scared and embarrassed. Other people appeared to be doing fine, while I was struggling to understand what I was supposed to do. The frustration built until I came home from class in tears, afraid to continue. Along with the fear of being underwater, I was worried I would fail at something Brian really wanted to share with me. I felt like I was going to have to tell him I couldn’t do it, and that made me feel bad. It was difficult enough to work out whether diving was something I wanted to continue; knowing how much he loved it made that conversation harder. I had bought a new mask, and the dive shop had scrubbed it before I left. As a beginner, I assumed that meant it was ready to use. I didn’t know that persistent fogging might need more attention, so I began wondering whether something was wrong with the mask or with me. Even when we managed to get it clear, that never seemed to last more than a few minutes. Getting help in Mexico By the time I finished the pool work, I was trying to convince myself to give the ocean a chance. We hadn’t even gone on vacation yet, and I didn’t want to quit before I had experienced what I had come to try. I kept coming back to the thought that if I didn’t at least try, I would never know. That helped me keep going, although when we arrived at the dive shop in Mexico, I was so nervous I couldn’t eat. Our divemaster, Javier, took time to understand what had been happening. Brian explained how much I had struggled in the pool and how difficult it was for me to see through my mask. Javier examined it, held a lighter beneath the lens and burned away the film. Watching him do that surprised me because everything I had heard about caring for a mask involved being careful with it. Here was someone experienced who had listened to the problem and was doing something about it. We also had time to slow down. Another diver needed a refresher, so we watched a safety video before getting in the water, which gave me a little breathing room. Then, instead of going straight into the ocean, we went into a pool nearby. That setting felt more manageable to me, and Brian was right beside me. Once we were kneeling underwater, I could actually see what Javier wanted me to do. His movements were slow and steady, and I could follow each demonstration. I wasn’t trying to work out what I had missed through a clouded lens. Being able to see him, with Brian next to me and time to work through the skills, brought my anxiety down. I cried again, this time with happiness. A chance to decide for myself The change gave me a chance to find out how I felt about diving. Until then, so much of my attention had gone into struggling with the mask and worrying about what would happen if I couldn’t do it. Now I could see, I could breathe, and I understood what was being asked of me. That gave me enough confidence to keep exploring, without having to decide in advance whether I would love diving as much as Brian did. Today, I’m an advanced diver, and Brian and I have had the privilege of exploring extraordinary underwater places that most people will never see. When we meet someone who is new to diving or returning after a long break, I remember how overwhelming those first classes felt. People had told me that diving was relaxing, but it didn’t feel that way when I was frightened and trying to learn so many unfamiliar skills. An underwater scene from The Denver Diver’s photo archive. What I tell new divers is to slow down and be honest about what they’re struggling with. Let the instructor or divemaster help work out what is happening, whether it involves a mask or another part of the experience. I have talked with experienced divers who still have equipment difficulties sometimes, and hearing that helps. I wish I had understood sooner that I didn’t have to quietly accept a problem just because I was new. Getting help with mine gave me the opportunity to discover something I now get to share with Brian—and enjoy for myself. A note from Brian Editor’s note — Brian: What still bothers me is that Trista’s original instructor never identified or addressed the persistent fogging. I believe much of her distress could have been prevented by paying closer attention and investigating what she was experiencing. Why that did not happen deserves a discussion of its own. For this story, what matters is the difference someone made by listening and helping her work through the problem. For anyone struggling through a course, there is room to slow down and ask for help. PADI encourages students who feel overly stressed to take a break and ask for more support and time. Every diver also has the right to decline a dive, however excited a partner or the rest of the group may be. If you are considering a course, our scuba certification guide explains the training options and what to look for in an instructor. A note on mask preparation: Flame treatment can damage a mask, and PADI cautions that it should only be attempted by an experienced professional. Follow the care instructions for your particular mask and get qualified help with persistent fogging. Reader next step — Brian: Have a question about learning to dive, a mask that keeps fogging, or your next step? Ask Brian a diving question or request assistance. I’ll read your message personally and help you explore your options.
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