Under normal conditions your mask prevents water from entering your nose. But if your mask floods with water or falls off, you'll have to concentrate on breathing only through your mouth until you correct the problem.

Some students have little or no difficulty with this skill, while others will have a certain level of discomfort with the idea of breathing without a mask. For those students, the following tips will help you gain comfort with this skill:

1. Exhale through your nose to force out any water that enters your nose.
2. Tilt your head slightly forward. This helps trap the air in your nose.
3. If you wear contact lenses, you may wish to close your eyes. This helps prevent accidental loss of lenses while your eyes are in contact with the water.