Exhaling underwater?

Question

As a beginner swimmer I'm having the problem of not being able to exhale through my nose while mainly being upside down (while attempting a flip turn is the best example).

One of the steps for a successful flip turn from what i've gathered is to exhale through as you somersault so water doesn't shoot up your nose. I'm confident that I'm able to do a flip turn but as soon as I end up upside down I'm unable to exhale (I have no clue why) thereby having water shoot up my nose which basically screws the whole routine up lol.

So what I wanted to ask is if there's anything that would help me be able to overcome not able to exhale upside down (I can do it fine going straight), as in exhale harder or anything. any advice would be appreciated. thanks.

Answer 1

Yes it is a bit harder to maintain the pressure of air going out as you do a turn. The best way is to start blowing out hard at the beginning of the turn. I've been swimming all my life and i'll still get water up my nose upon occasion if I get distracted in the beginning of my turn and down blow out hard and continuously. You need to keep blowing out until you take your next breath. Good luck!

Answer 2

If you are having trouble you can buy a nose plug, which pinches your nose from the outside so you don't get water in there. Or, as soon as you go into the water, shoot a HARD stream of bubbles through your nose until you are done the flip.

Answer 3

I am surprised that if you can do it upright, that you have trouble on your back.  Anyway, you can place your legs over the side of a pool up to your knees, body in the water on your back.  Cross your arms and practice backward "bobs".  You press down, submerging your head and chest and exhale slowly out the nosethe entire time.  Make a "humming sound" and this will assure that you are doing it correctly.  (The only way to produce the sound is to have lips pierced and blow air out the nose.)  In fact start the humming before you submerge to be sure you are already doing it to avoid doing it too late.  Come back up, inhale through the mouth, and repeat.  Sometimes fear causes the loss of ability to perform this and mastering this will overcome this problem.  Good luck!