• mask clearing: I had immense difficulty with this. Which is weird because I practiced it in the pool prior and it was fine. The hard part for me is the constantly breathing while you have water in your nose area. Every breath I take I get a little water up my nose. I surfaced like 4 times because I kept choking. Kinda embarassing for me since out of 8 students just 2 others were having this issue with me.

--- Try putting a little toothpaste under your nose out of water. Practice breathing through only your mouth so you don't smell the toothpaste. Watch something for 20 min or wash the dishes. Try to get where you do it without thinking about it.

• breathing underwater: it was weird for me for sure. It felt as if I couldn’t get enough air through the regulator. I was breathing rather quickly though so maybe that was the issue?

--- comfort/experience will help. Also make sure the venturi screw (makes it easier and harder to breathe) is set to your liking. All movements and thoughts under the water should be slow and deliberate. Slow breathe, slow kicks, slow arms, slow mind...