Clearing your regulator is an easy and important skill for scuba diving. It helps you breathe comfortably and safely, even if your regulator gets water in it. Learning how to clear your regulator helps you stay calm and in control underwater, which makes diving more fun and safe. Here’s a simple guide on how to do it!
Why Clearing Your Regulator is Important
While diving, your regulator might get water in it for a few reasons. Maybe you took it out to share air with a buddy, adjusted your mask, or got it bumped by a wave or something else underwater. Knowing how to clear it quickly means you can keep breathing easily without getting scared.
Two Easy Ways to Clear Your Regulator
There are two main ways to clear your regulator: using your breath
Exhalation method and
The purge button.
It’s good to know both!
Exhalation Method
This method uses your own breath to blow the water out of the regulator. Here’s how you do it:
Step 1. Put the Regulator Back in Your Mouth**: Make sure it’s in your mouth properly and your lips are sealed around the mouthpiece.
2. Blow Out Hard: Blow out forcefully through your mouth. This pushes the water out of the regulator.
3. Breathe Normally: Once the water is gone, you can start breathing normally again.
This method is great because you just use your breath, no buttons needed!
Purge Button Method
This method uses the purge button on the regulator to clear the water. Here’s how it works:
Step 1: Put the Regulator Back in Your Mouth:
Make sure it’s in your mouth properly and your lips are sealed around the mouthpiece.
Step 2: Press the Purge Button:
Find the button on the front of the regulator and press it. This pushes air through the regulator and blows the water out.
Step 3 Breathe Normally:
Once the water is gone, you can start breathing normally again.
The purge button method is quick and doesn’t need much effort, which is great if there’s a lot of water.