When you clear water from a mask with a purge valve, you tilt your head:

• A. Backward
• B. To the left
• C. To the right
• D. Forward

Answer: (D)

When clearing water from a mask with a purge valve, gravity does the work best when the purge valve is at the lowest point on your face. Tilting your head forward places the valve downward, so any water pools toward the valve and can be pushed out through it as you exhale gently through your nose. This keeps water from pooling under the lens and reduces the chance of it washing into your eyes. Tilting backward lifts the valve away from the water, and tilting left or right doesn’t direct the water toward the valve, making the purge less effective. So a forward tilt is the most efficient way to clear the mask.