Diving and Compressed Air Injuries ~ Divers often use the term "Squeeze" what does this word mean?

Question

Also what are some of the Symptoms, Preventions and Treatments? Plz be specific !

Answer 1

Mask Squeeze is a term . It describes the water pressure on the outside of a dive mask . Squeezing the air space inside the mask  and sinus . To correct this simply exhale through your nose . The symptoms are generally the mask will be pressed against the nose , There is also a vacuum caused as a result of the water pressure . If unchecked can leave embarrassing rings around your eyes or nosebleed . This all depends on the individual . Every person is different . Thus the symptoms can vary . The questions you are asking are very complex . I recommend you take a course .   Squeeze in scuba terms only talks of sinus and air spaces in the mask . The pressure in salt water is about .445 per foot .  If you learn to equalize the airspace properly you will most likely never get a mask squeeze . That you will notice for more than a second . Your lungs will operate normally if you breath normally . You are breathing compressed air .

Answer 2

I have not heard that term used pertaining to diving.  Just from the word I would assume it has to do with the water preasure.  All I can think of that "squeezes" are the sinuses.  If those get clogged it can be mighty painful, especially when ascending. (my sinuses can hurt for hours after a dive)

Symptoms would be pain in the sinus area, mine happens in my forhead.

Prevention could be sinus medicine that will last for the duration of the dive.

Treatment would be to ascend very slowly, move the jaw, and massage the sinus area on the way up.

Answer 3

Squeeze refers to diving at greater than normal depths. The water pressure can be formidable, and the temperature drops significantly. Your mask will glue to your face, but more importantly, your lungs will be squeezed so their capacity is minimized. Prevention is to know what you are doing, don't do depth diving unless it's under supervision and for a darn good reason!

There's really not much reason to go below 50 feet because you lose most of the light by then in any case.