Is this like childbirth?

[flyboy65]

I REALLY like Beeger's explanation of how to approach these tasks, as that is exactly the way I had to perform my first attempt at mask clearing. 

Just a thought on the splotchiness on your face...if it's concentrated around your eyes, where your mask would have been, it could be too much negative pressure in your mask, causing the blood to be "sucked" to the surface of your skin.  The reason I bring this up is, as a kid, I thought it would be cool to suck a plastic water glass to my face and walk around for a while.  Well, upon taking it off, it looked like a GIANT hickie around my mouth and chin!  (I don't do that any longer!!)

I'm really hoping you can relax, and do remember you have options.  I've never been in a panic situation underwater as of yet, but I hope I remember that I have options at all times. 

Diving in the aquarium here in Duluth, one of the sturgeon twisted his body VERY quickly, and slammed into my mask, knocking it crooked, and immediately I couldn't see.  But with the training we've had, and some practice once in a while, it was no big deal to straighten it out, get it cleared, and THEN laugh about it!  I didn't even have to think about what I was doing.  That's why they call it TRAINING!!  Same thing as a pilot.  They don't have to think about what to do in a snafu situation, their past training takes over, and it's more like a reaction than anything. 

Relax, and enjoy yourself in the pool.  I've found scuba to be one of the most exhilerating experiences of my life.  It's the closest to being a "fish" as I'll ever be! 

Good luck!!