How to hold a regulator when it's not in your mouth

Nicholas McLaren

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How To Open Water Skill: Regulator Clearing

Here's How:

1. Inhale normally from your regulator.
   
2. Holding the regulator with your right hand (as pictured) remove it from your mouth. Hold it with the mouth piece facing down
   
3. While the regulator is out of your mouth, slowly exhale by blowing small bubbles.
   
4. Place the regulator back in your mouth.
   
5. You will now clear the regulator using one of these methods:
   
   
   • Exhalation method: Sharply exhale into the regulator.
     
     
   • Purge button method: Use your tongue as a splash guard by placing the tip of your tongue on the top of your mouth behind your teeth, or by covering the hole in the regulator with your tongue. Push the purge button on the front of your regulator gently.
     
     
   Using either method, all of the water in the regulator will be forced out of the regulator's exhaust valves.
   
6. Cautiously inhale. Normally the regulator will be clear, but there may still be a small amount of water in the regulator. Breathe carefully from the regulator just in case. If water remains, repeat step 5.
   
7. If all is clear, breathe normally and give your instructor the OK sign.
   

Tips:

1. Remember to continuously exhale while the regulator isn't in your mouth.
2. If the regulator begins to free-flow (air comes gushing out) when you take if out of your mouth, either turn it so that the mouth piece is facing down or put your finger over the hole in the mouth piece. Using either method the free-flow should stop.

What You Need:

• A full set of scuba gear.