If you are a scuba diver, you likely have noticed that almost all the deepest freedivers wear freediving nose clips instead of a mask. For scuba divers who have never used one, a freediving nose clip seems like a strange option.

After all, the sense that you rely on underwater is sight and since you can use nose clips with goggles, you will need to consider how to incorporate nose clips into your scuba diving equipment.

The Importance of the Freediving Nose Clip 

You can get benefit from your freediving nose clip in three points, including:

• Equalization 

Equalization is considered the limiting factor when you try to dive deeper. We take with us as much air as possible into our lungs on the surface. This air isn’t only needed to power our body, but also to equalize our ears.

Air is in short supply so in which you use to avoid losing the air will help you to equalize deeper. Freedivers have realized that masks may be a waste of air and the freediving nose clip is a simple solution to that.

You will need to equalize your mask to avoid the problem of mask squeeze which is a burst in some blood vessels in the eyes. Actually, you will need to equalize your mask several times on a single dive. 

It will be much trickier when a scuba diver is below his residual volume and it’s hard for him to find or limit the air depending on his equalization method.

Wearing a nose clip will help you conserve your ear in the most efficient manner. An extra benefit to the nose clip is not having to think about equalizing your mask as when you use it, it will be simpler to make equalization, that in turn makes you have less things to think about and this is a good thing in diving.

• Efficiency 

The freediving nose clip will positively affect streamlining while descending as you will be hands-free. Having to keep a hand on your nose will create more drag while diving and surely this affects your relaxation and efficiency.

You can amplify that with Constant Weight No Fins and Free Immersion as it’s necessary to pause for a moment in order to squeeze your nose before you take the next pull.

You might not have to be efficient if you are planning to stay around the same depths, but if you decide to go deeper, you need to become as efficient as possible. 

Many of the changes you would have to make to go deeper will take from you hours of training, but if you want to make that quickly as possible, a nose clip will make that easier.

• Relaxation 

It seems strange to say that once you are accustomed to diving with a clip, you will surely find it more relaxing than diving with a mask. The benefits that we have mentioned before contribute to this, but there is something more.

The sensation of Water moving over your face may be the great cause, as losing most of your sight may heighten your other senses and allows you to zone into the pleasurable feelings of falling through the water.

Why You Should Make the Switch to the Nose Clips

Most people delve into the world of freediving to be able to explore the underwater world or to practice spearfishing. Both of these activities require wearing a mask. Also, if any diver wanted to train on the line, this requires diving with a mask.

It’s necessary to get used to diving with a scuba mask, as diving experts would never recommend a diver to begin practicing freediving with a nose clip.

If you want to switch it to a freediving nose clip, you will need to ask yourself if you have reached these depths that you want with a mask. 

For example, if you are going to become a scuba instructor, you will need to reach 40 meters with a mask. If you have reached these depths with a mask, then you can switch to a nose clip. If not, you will need to keep training with a mask.

How to Find the Perfect Nose Clip Fit 

Finding the perfect freediving nose clip is very important. If your nose clip doesn’t seal properly, it will surely leak air and all the air that should be saved will float back up to the surface. 

Finding the right freediving nose clip for you will take some experimentation. If it isn’t possible to try before buying, the general rule of thumb is to buy a big nose clip if your nose is big and a small one if your nose is small.

Top 5 Tips for Wearing a freediving Nose Clip 

Here are some tips to help you get the most benefits of your nose clip:

• Before wearing your nose clip, ensure there is no grease oil or sunscreen on your nose and it’s better to rub your nose with the loose dive line or your wetsuit to avoid slipping it off. 
• Your nose clip needs to be tight. It’s wrong to not tighten your nose clip enough at first. Hold the clip at the end of your arms and squeeze until it can’t be closed anymore. It should be uncomfortable.
• Play around with exactly how to fit it to your nose. Different divers find it works in different spots, so once you find your sport, always put it there.

• Start diving in shallow depths. Don’t put on your nose clip and expect to love it right away. Try to ease yourself gently over a few sessions.
• After you fit your nose clip, Try to do a strong equalization and hold the pressure. If there is any leaking, then you have to change something until there is no air escaping.