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How to Defog your Scuba Mask Once and for All!

December 13, 2015 By Dive With Mia

I certainly remember the first time I put on a scuba diving mask and went for a dive in the ocean.  I was in awe at all of the amazing creatures and wildlife and colours!  However, if someone hadn’t told me some unusual ‘tricks’ on how to prepare my scuba mask before jumping in, my view beneath the sea would have been seen through a hazy fog.  Now that I am an experienced scuba diving instructor with several thousands of dives, I am excited to pass down my knowledge of how to effectively defog your scuba mask!  And as you know, your scuba mask is your window into this spectacular other world, so you will want to ensure that it is in top condition for 100% pure underwater enjoyment!

Preparing a Brand New Scuba Mask

When you first buy a scuba mask, you will be so excited to try it out, you may even wear it in the bathtub!  But – wait – you MUST prepare your mask before you jump in.  The tempered glass in your scuba mask contains a layer of film from the manufacturing of the product that needs to be removed prior to being worn.  You won’t be able to see or touch this film, but it will cause your scuba mask to be super foggy no matter how many defog products you use on it.

You may have heard of the traditional “toothpaste” method, but I like to do something I like to call:  “The Enhanced Toothpaste Method”.  It is a combination of burning your scuba mask with a lighter as well as using toothpaste.  Most people are surprised when I make the suggestion of burning their scuba mask with fire, but when they see (literally!) the results, they are always happy and grateful!

DefoggingYourNewScubaMask_DiveWithMia_MiaToose

With a lighter you can burn the residue from a new scuba mask lens.

STEP 1:  THE BURN

In order to defog the mask effectively by burning it, I first ensure I am in a protected area away from wind.  Next, I carefully hold the flame of the lighter to the inside glass area of the lens until it is all black.  You will start to see the invisible film burning away from the heat of the lighter.  It’s really neat!  I am always very careful around the silicone skirt of the mask and I never hold the lighter to a scuba mask that has glued-on bi-focals or prescription lenses as I am worried the heat from the flame will affect the glue.  Also, be careful of your thumb as the lighter gets very hot when you maintain the flame for more than just a second or two.

Now the lenses will be very hot, so after you burn the scuba mask, set it aside to let it cool off and don’t touch the hot lens.  Just like any glassware, remember that any sudden change from very hot to very cold can cause the glass to shatter – be careful!

STEP 2:  THE TOOTHPASTE

Your next step will be to take some toothpaste (not the gel kind) and with your finger dab some on both sides of the inside of the lenses.  Rub the black from the burning around with the toothpaste thoroughly and then let it sit to dry.  I usually wait an hour or two before I rinse it out; however, if you don’t have the time, just go ahead and rinse it right away; there’s a good chance it will still work.

STEP 3:  THE RINSE

Before diving, put your scuba mask under a tap and use water to rinse out the black from the burning and the toothpaste.  You can use your fingernail to get around the skirt the touches the lens in case some of the black toothpaste seeped under there.

 

DefogScubaMask_ToothpasteSwirl_DiveWithMia

Put a blob of toothpaste (not the gel kind) onto the burn area and rub it around.

 

Now you are ready to scuba dive!

Before every scuba dive, you will need to do another type of defog; however, it won’t be as extensive as for a brand new scuba mask.  The reason scuba masks get foggy is most often due to the warmth and oil on your skin reacting with the cold of the water and the air in between.  Sunscreen and make-up also contribute to the likelihood of a foggy mask.

Different ways to defog your mask:

  1. Au Naturale

We call this very special form of defogging your scuba mask “Au Naturale” because our own body generates it all naturally in the form of saliva.  That’s right – spit!  This method of defogging your scuba mask is perfect because you do not need to buy any special concoction and it is safe for the environment.  Although initially you may feel embarassed to spit into your mask, with practice, you can defog your mask using your own saliva in a discreet and effective manner.  Very important!  I found this method to work best when you spit into your mask when it is completely dry.  If you take off your mask in the water and then spit into it, I found that it is very likely to become foggy during the dive.  Remember – dry mask, spit, rub, rinse with water, put on your mask, and DIVE!

  1. Commercial Defog

This is the type of defog you can buy at any scuba shop.  There are a million different types, but they are basically all the same.  If you would like to go this route, I recommend making sure it is safe for the reef and environmentally friendly.  Usually scuba divers will put this inside their scuba mask, swish it around with their finger and then rinse and go!  Divers tend to have a favourite brand and swear by it.

  1. Baby Shampoo or dishwashing soap

This is a very economical choice in the world of defogging your scuba mask.  Many dive boats will carry an empty plastic water bottle container with a hole in the top and fill it about a quarter full of baby shampoo and the rest water.  Even just a little bit of soapy water will be enough to defog your mask.  Always remember to completely rinse your mask otherwise the residue soap will sting your eyes underwater – even the baby shampoo will cause some tears if you use too much!

Tips to prevent a foggy scuba mask even if you have defogged it!

  • If your face is sweaty and hot, it is a good idea to splash some cool water on it to give it a quick rinse before you put your mask on.
  • Before putting your choice of defog on your scuba mask, ensure that the lens is dry.
  • You can apply defog to your mask anytime prior to jumping in the water; however, you should rinse the defog out only moments before jumping in.  If you have rinsed it out, but then are delayed jumping in and you are not ready to put your mask on your face, leave a layer of water in your mask until you are ready.
  • Once you have defogged and rinsed your scuba mask, put your mask on your face and don’t take it off!  Moving your mask to your forehead, neck, or into the water basically eliminates any defogging you had just done.

I hope these tips and techniques allow you some fantastically clear lenses so you have the best possible view under the sea!

Happy Diving!

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Best Underwater Photography Tips for Beginners by Matt Smith

November 13, 2015 By Dive With Mia

Matt Smith contacted me with an interest in sharing his writing piece on DiveWithMia, so I went ahead and checked out his work – I was impressed!  He had written a great summary of underwater photography that would suit scuba divers keen on starting to document their underwater adventures.  I liked the article and I also loved the infographic that came along with it!

Matt is a graduate in journalism with a passion for the underwater world just like the rest of us.  He decided to combine his passions and has created a super cool website:  WaterWelders.com where he does extensive research and interviews with commercial and recreational scuba divers around the world, telling their stories.  Matt has a great respect for all divers and the work they do.   Here is his awesome article on underwater photography tips for beginners:

SCUBA diving gives you an ocean of surrounding beauty; it’s an allure that begs to be captured with a camera, but underwater photography is an artform that takes time and experience to master.  Beginners should learn the foundations of lighting, technique and equipment before attempting more advanced work with their cameras.  It all starts with a willingness to learn.  You’ll make mistakes, but the most common ones can be avoided with proper understanding.  Here’s a fun underwater photography infographic that boils down some of the marine snapshot basics.  Most of it is self-explanatory, but we’re going to look at several areas in more detail; working these approaches can make a “good” underwater picture even more beautiful.

 

Best Underwater Photography Tips for Beginners

Best Underwater Photography Tips for Beginners

 

Techniques & Important Points for SCUBA Photographers

Several options exist for underwater photography cameras, and each has its own set of pros and cons.  Beginners might be tempted to work with a mobile device because of its convenience and simplicity.  Though many mobile devices work great, their lens and flash capabilities are limited.  Moving up the chain, compact cameras have additional value and settings.  If you’re looking for something more professional, DSLR’s provide the most options and lens capabilities, but their price point may be high for some.

Strobes are a huge asset to underwater photographers, providing them with control over lighting direction and strength.  Though natural light is best, it quickly dwindles the deeper you dive down.  Look for strobes that are easily maneuverable and great for handling.

The closer, the better.  The best underwater pictures are often taken from 6 – 12 inches away from subjects.  Be aware of your subject’s behavior so as not to disturb it, but the more you can tighten your proximity, the more natural light and detail you’ll be able to capture.

The water gives you free range of movement – and perspective.  Capture your subject from many angles, and experiment with lighting and contrast.  Your ability to quickly ascend and descend gives you an advantage over topside photographers.

SCUBA divers must deal with backscatter when working their cameras.  Small particles can crowd out an otherwise amazing shot.  Use your flash appropriately, keeping an indirect light on your subjects to limit backscatter.

An Ocean of Opportunity for Your Camera

In time and with the right equipment, you can work wonders in underwater photography.  It’s a beautiful world, and you can help raise awareness for environment and ecosystems with the photography that you capture.  Spend some time with other media divers, learning the ins and outs of the industry.  Keep practicing, and you’ll take your skill deeper than you ever thought possible!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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How did I get here? Part 2 – The Indirect and Complicated Route to PADI Discover Scuba Diving in The Philippines

July 31, 2015 By Dive With Mia

Last week, inspired by some people asking me about my life and how I ended up where I am today, I posted my initial feature entitled:  How did I get here?  The Indirect and Complicated Route to Scuba Diving Happiness – Part 1.   At the moment, I am spending time in the Turks and Caicos Islands while starting my own Truli Wetsuits business in Canada and almost every time I meet a tourist, they ask:  ”So, how did you end up in Turks and Caicos?”  There is a simple answer (I accepted a job offer as Purser on the scuba liveaboard Turks and Caicos Explorer II), but there’s also a way more interesting and convoluted answer which I’m having a lot of fun writing about.  In my last post, I ended with me taking a job as an English Teacher in Tokyo, Japan upon graduating from university in Canada and now I will continue to tell my story of finding a way to try scuba diving and adventure on my first backpacker’s trip to The Philippines…

Now that I was unleashed on the big wide world as a Truli independent adult, I was determined to follow my passions and do what I had always wanted to do.  1.  I wanted to travel and explore.  2.  I wanted to try scuba diving.  After working 6 months at the language school I was entitled to some vacation days.  All the teachers would talk about their amazing adventures in Thailand and rave about the lovely culture, food, and fantastic shopping, but I didn’t want to do what everyone else was doing already.  There was this free magazine for foreigners in Tokyo and there was a page that advertised all of the prices for travel and I noticed that the Philippines was pretty much the same airfare as Thailand.  I decided I wanted to go to the Philippines.  I went to the international bookstore and bought the Lonely Planet guidebook to the Philippines as well as  the Frommer’s guide to South East Asia and started to study where was the best place to go scuba diving.  Although the most famous places for scuba diving were advertised as Cebu Island and Boracay, I fell in love when I read about the island of Palawan in the south west side of the country.  The guide book described this place as “The Last Frontier”.  I booked my flight from Tokyo to Manila and then straight to Puerto Princesa on Palawan and back.  I was feeling pretty nervous about this big adventure all on my own, but it was what I had always wanted and I felt like I finally had the opportunity to do something amazing and bold and I did not want to let that pass me by.  But luckily for me, I think my enthusiasm inspired some excitement in my co-worker because just at the last minute she decided to join me on my trip!  I was stoked!

People had warned me about Manila being super dangerous and I was quite anxious considering I didn’t really know what I was doing.  I had booked one night in a little hostel near the airport before we flew the next day to the island, but we needed to call and confirm when we got there.  But neither of us had any money or coins for the phone.  We were standing by the phone trying to figure out what to do when a man who looked like he was in the military (they were all over the airport) and with a very large gun walked over to us.  He generously offered us his phone card so we could use the phone.  This was the first of hundreds of positive cross cultural encounters I would make in my life.  Although I was still on edge of my new surroundings, the kindness of the “scary” stranger breathed some life and confidence into me as we hopped into a taxi to head to the hotel.

That's Mia snorkelling for the first time off a boat in The Philippines!

Palawan, The Philippines

Over the next week we took a Jeepney across the island, which fell off the road at one point.  We paid some local guys to travel even further up island by water.  They caught us some fish and put us up in a hut on a deserted island with no electricity.  But more importantly, they lent me a scuba mask.  This was the first time in my life that I swam in an ocean and looked beneath the surface to see the colourful wildlife below.  I remember being absolutely enthralled.  It’s interesting to think back to that moment and wonder if it relates to how much I love introducing people to scuba diving.  I love that I am the one that gives others the opportunity to see all the amazing things below the surface of water.

Our final destination was El Nido, which is on the northern tip of Palawan.  We arrived by boat and I faintly remember a light drizzle with rainbows as we arrived with a back drop of tall craggy cliffs jutting out of the ocean amongst the multitude of blue hues of the sea.  We immediately signed up for a PADI Discover Scuba Diving course for first thing the next day.  I was so elated that not only was I going to get to try scuba diving, but it was going to happen in this exotic little village in the South Pacific!  The next morning we went to the dive shop and travelled by boat to a secluded white sandy beach on some island.  There were three of us girls and one instructor.  Besides my friend and I, the other woman was a Filipino from Manila who, much to my surprise, had never tried scuba diving.  She told us her brothers were all instructors and she loved the water, but just never had the chance to go.  I could totally relate, but couldn’t believe with all the beautiful waters that surround her country that she could wait

That wetsuit is exactly the reason I decided to design my own Truli Wetsuit line!

El Nido, Palawan, The Philippines

so long!  Our instructor made us some lunch and then briefed us on the skills and dive we were about to do.  We walked across the white sandy beach and into the ocean to do our “pool skills” and then we swam off together!  I felt like a natural and was so excited to see a black and white sea snake!  It looked so amazing as it slithered through the water column.  I don’t think in all the diving I’ve done since then that I’ve seen anything like that again.  So that was the day that opened a whole new world to me and started a journey that has taken me to where I am today!

We desperately wanted to stay longer in the village and do more scuba diving, but alas, I had very responsibly booked a return flight from the town all the way at the southern end of the island and needed another day of travel to get back there, so off we went.  As soon as we got back to Tokyo, I was on a mission to figure out how to become a certified PADI Open Water diver as soon as possible, which you can read about in my next blog post!

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How did I get here? Part 1 – The Indirect and Complicated Route to Scuba Diving Happiness

July 21, 2015 By Dive With Mia

I went out for a drink last week with some people who we had become friends with over on Long Bay Beach on Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands.  We

Long Bay Beach, Provo, Turks and Caicos Islands

Long Bay Beach, Provo, Turks and Caicos Islands

spend a large portion of our days over there escaping the relentless heat of our non-air conditioned house in the heat of July in the Caribbean.  There you can always find some relief from the heat via the wind or a dip in the ocean.  It’s only a 1 minute drive away.  The beach has become famous for kiteboarding and most tourists visit at least once, fall in love with the soft sand, shallow calm waters, and decide to return again and again.  After some casual chats about life on the island and about the Truli Wetsuits business I am starting up, this tourist began to probe me with questions about how I got to be where I was today.  I realized that I have answered those questions quite a few times over the years and as time passes the stories seem to get more and more interesting.  Life is not a smooth ride, but my determination to combine work with my passions has taken me all over the world and has challenged me in ways I never thought possible.  I’m addicted to those challenges!  And so it began…

Did you ever want something as a child that you weren’t able to have that followed you into adulthood?  That was how scuba diving was with me.

I remember being a kid and wanting to learn to scuba dive so badly, but was never allowed to due to the cost it would entail especially if all 3 of us kids were to learn.  Growing up in Canada we had the good fortune of spending summers at my grandmother’s cottage on a lovely clear lake where I learned the expression:  “water-logged”.  We swam in the lake, went fishing, canoeing, water-skiing, and even sailing.  I loved to gaze into the water and imagine what was below.  My curiosity was endless when it came to what lay beneath the surface of the water.

As I grew older, I often looked into things like scuba clubs, but while at university, I had other priorities that put the scuba diving on the backburner again and again.  Instead I focused on non-profits and began my volunteer experience as the Trip Coordinator with Habitat for Humanity.  I learned about leadership, fundraising, and having fun while doing something meaningful and it finally started to lead me on some unforgettable international adventures to builds in Jamaica and Costa Rica.  Upon graduation from Wilfrid Laurier University at the age of 22 and with a Bachelor’s Degree in English Language & Literature as well as a minor in Development & International Studies, I packed up my bags for a dream-come-true-first-real-job adventure in the vast metropolis of Tokyo, Japan.  I was a brand spanking new English Teacher at a conversational school in a city of 13 million or so people who spoke a language I knew nothing about.  I had never even eaten sushi before or been on an airplane beyond Costa Rica.  I’ll never forget how I felt when my dad dropped me off at the airport in Toronto for my flight to Tokyo.  I had no idea what I was doing having never been to an airport by myself before let alone travelling across the world alone for a new job.

As strange as it might seem, Tokyo, Japan is where my scuba life began!

In my next blog post, I will write about the first time I tried scuba diving while on my first backpackers trip to the Philippines!

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Have You Ever Seen These Crazy Scuba Dive Entries?

May 19, 2015 By Dive With Mia

As many of you know I was working on the Explorer Ventures scuba dive liveaboard in the Turks and Caicos Islands in 2014-2015 and if you haven’t already done so (or know so), scuba liveaboards are the way to go in the world of scuba diving!  The Turks and Caicos Explorer II is a 125ft vessel that hosts a maximum of 20 scuba divers on 1 week trips where they eat, sleep, and scuba dive 5 times a day.  My job as both Dive Instructor and Purser on the ship was to assist divers in and out of the water 5 times a day (among a zillion other things!).

I did the math the other day and determined that on average, I assisted with and witnessed 540 boat dive entries a week (27 dives/week x 20 divers).   I also worked blocks of 12 weeks in a row, which equals 6 480 scuba dive entries every 3 month period!  On that note, I would like to declare myself an expert in the field of scuba dive entries!

You may think that entering the water from a boat as a scuba diver is pretty straight forward; however, I would like to admit that I have seen some pretty interesting and non-traditional entries on a regular basis.  In this blog I’ve decided to outline the most common types of entries as well as the ones that make me laugh on a daily basis.  Have I mentioned I love my job?

Perhaps a mini-briefing on scuba dive entries before I dive right in to the good stuff, which will be a great refresher for those who haven’t been in the water for awhile.  Depending on the type of boat you are using there are a variety of methods to get into the water and enjoy your dive.  Always inquire from your divemaster and/or captain as to the method that is used for each vessel.  During the PADI Open Water course you learn two types and possibly others depending on the region or conditions you are learning in.  One is called the Controlled Seated Entry, where you are sitting geared up on the edge of a platform (like a dock or edge of a boat) with your fins on your feet as they dangle in the water.  Then you twist your body to one side and place both hands on the edge next to you.  After that you simply need to continue to turn your body as you push away from the platform.  Although we teach this method and, in my opinion, it seems like a safe and easy method of entry, I can’t say I’ve really seen anyone use it outside of the training.  Not sure why…

The other method of entry we teach in the course and is the most common scuba dive entry I’ve seen, is called the Giant Stride Entry.  With all of your gear on, including fins, mask and regulator in your mouth, you take the palm of your hand (usually the right hand) and put it on your regulator while your fingers are on your mask.  This helps hold them in place when you hit the water.  Your other hand can do one of three things depending on you and your situation.  Originally you were told to hold the buckle of your weight belt, to avoid it from opening upon impact with the water.  But these days, most people are using integrated weights, so it isn’t necessary.  Instead,  what many of those divers do is gather their console and alternate and hold those with their other hand.  This avoids the potential for a dangling hose to be caught on something on the boat while you are dropping into the water.  The third option is what I recommend as I see masks slipping off all the time.  You should take your other hand and hold the back of your mask strap so it doesn’t slip off and you lose your mask once you hit the water.

Okay, so we’ve got one hand holding your regulator and mask in place and the other holding the back of your mask strap (or your weight belt, or your gauge), now you need to look straight out towards the horizon (try not to look down once you have checked that the area is clear).  When you are ready, you just need to take a step and you will have completed the Giant Stride Entry!  We tend to move in the direction we are looking, so by looking out at the horizon, you will step far enough away from the boat not to hit the back of your tank on the boat.  Don’t forget to signal to the boat that you are okay by putting your fist on your head or giving the okay sign with your hand.

This is a fantastic example of a Giant Stride Entry off of the Turks and Caicos Explorer II in 2014.

A perfect example of a Giant Stride Entry

West Caicos, Turks and Caicos Islands

Okay, so now you know the standard, but what I really wanted to talk about here today are the out of the ordinary, extraordinary, where-did-they-come-up-with-that-technique, styles that I have put into 4 categories.  I’m not sure where these have evolved from, but I think they are ultimately the result of each scuba diver’s unique individual style…or lack of coordination!  Either way, they have provided me with an endless amount of amusement throughout my days on the boat!  For each scuba dive entry, I will rate it with a Splash Factor between 1 (not much splash) and 5 (big splash!).

The Torpedo

The first scuba dive entry I’d like to talk about is my favourite.  According to The Torpedo-ites, this style seems to have come about due to scuba diving in locations that have a significant drop between the platform and the water and/or a negative entry was required.  To perform this entry, the scuba diver approaches his exit point, steps off the platform and brings both feet together in one smooth action resulting in a streamlined entry like a torpedo plummeting straight into the water.  This tends to be a very clean and tidy entry with no flailing arms and dangling gear.  The Splash Factor is a 2!

This scuba dive entry is neat and tidy! They enter the water just like a torpedo!

West Caicos, Turks and Caicos Islands

In a Guitar Hero's mind, this is how he thinks he looks!

Photo taken from the Air Guitar World Championships

Guitar Hero

This type of scuba dive entry is super fun.  I’ve only ever seen men do it and it is reminiscent of those guys in your life who totally wish they were rock stars.  You know the types – they are the ones who are playing the air guitar like there’s no tomorrow.  Technically speaking, they are performing The Giant Stride Entry just as it says to do in the text book, but these guys have simply added some style.  They lift their leg just a little bit higher and reach for the stars as they leap from the vessel probably with some rockin’ AC/DC or Dire Straits internal playlist happening in their heads.  I’ll never forget the first one I ever saw by Mike Swisher and then more recently from Tim Tetlow!  Rock On Scuba Divers!!!  The Splash Factor is a 3!

Tim Tetlow - a true scuba diving Guitar Hero!

West Caicos, Turks and Caicos Islands

Froggy

This is one of those scuba dive entries that is so strange and unusual that the first time I ever saw it, I thought it was one of those once in a lifetime happenings.  I remember genuinely enjoying the show and shaking my head in wonder at all the funtastic things I get to see in my job.  But low and behold, The Froggy seems to be some strange, but common scuba dive entry.  Let me try to explain how one goes about doing this entry.  The diver will prepare himself as usual; approach the platform wearing fins, mask, regulator in mouth; and when they are ready and it is clear they will bend at the knee and spring up and outward bringing both legs up towards their chest as they jump out.  I feel fortunate that I was able to snap this fab photo because this is definitely the type of scuba dive entry that you need to see to believe it.  The Splash Factor is a 5!

The ultimate Froggy!

West Caicos, Turks and Caicos Islands

Free-Style

The Free-Style category is an anything goes division in the rating of scuba dive entries.  Some divers tend to be performers.  They like the attention and want to try things a little out of the ordinary and always with a touch of shock value added to the list.  I remember watching anxiously as this young girl did a flip in the air from the edge of the boat to the water wearing all of her dive gear.  I do not recommend that at all as it looked just like an accident waiting to happen!  I also remember this fantastic little bearded Russian man who would gently fall into the water like a tree that had just been cut down.  He’d rotate slightly in a log roll so he’d hit the water just right.  I wanted to yell “TIMBER!” every time he went for his dives.  We also had the pleasure of hosting Dave Smith and his dive shop, Blue Horizons Dive Center in Pennsylvania.  Dave is a performer too!  I was able to capture him doing an awesome cannon ball as his entry into the deep blue sea.  The Splash Factor is almost always a 5 for a Freestyler!

Dave Smith is a true Freestyler with his Cannon ball scuba dive entry!

West Caicos, Turks and Caicos Islands

 

So, what have we learned here?  There are a number of takes on the traditional Giant Stride Entry.  As long as  you are safe, the added style to each entry will generate giggles from your divemasters and dive buddies.  My personal favourite is to jump in and put my fins on while I’m underwater already.  I love the gentle free fall on my toes!  Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about these or any other scuba dive entries!  Happy Hopping!

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