Sinking all the way! Need advice

[bogbud]

Last time i did visit my favorite bog it did happen finally. Not really by accident, but quite impulsive
One of the spots in my bog became so churned-up and soft by my frequent visits that i was able to keep pumping my legs all the time and naturally i kept sinking and sinking in that creamy goo i have created after the last couple of weeks. I know that the bog has a lot of bottomless places, but the mud soon becomes too thick and sticky.
So when i was at my armpits (normal level that is available in this thick bog) i did decide to sink up to neck (most serious level so far) and finally up to my nose. When there was still just soft mud below my boots i did just let it happen and went under.
AWESOME rush of adrenaline, excitement and fear! Came back just after a couple of seconds, but now, with Pandoras box open i need your advice, you expert-sinkers.

You just hold your breath when you're down there? What do you do when your head is just above the surface again (i could not even open my eyes because of all the mud)? How do you get all that muck out of your eyes, nose and ears?
I know from a couple post-credit-scenes that the models do get help immediatly after their sink (e.g. bottle of water for their eyes and nose), for obvious reasons that is not possible for me, so whats the best way to help myself?

[Fred588]

Last time i did visit my favorite bog it did happen finally. Not really by accident, but quite impulsive
One of the spots in my bog became so churned-up and soft by my frequent visits that i was able to keep pumping my legs all the time and naturally i kept sinking and sinking in that creamy goo i have created after the last couple of weeks. I know that the bog has a lot of bottomless places, but the mud soon becomes too thick and sticky.
So when i was at my armpits (normal level that is available in this thick bog) i did decide to sink up to neck (most serious level so far) and finally up to my nose. When there was still just soft mud below my boots i did just let it happen and went under.
AWESOME rush of adrenaline, excitement and fear! Came back just after a couple of seconds, but now, with Pandoras box open i need your advice, you expert-sinkers.

You just hold your breath when you're down there? What do you do when your head is just above the surface again (i could not even open my eyes because of all the mud)? How do you get all that muck out of your eyes, nose and ears?
I know from a couple post-credit-scenes that the models do get help immediatly after their sink (e.g. bottle of water for their eyes and nose), for obvious reasons that is not possible for me, so whats the best way to help myself?

A lot will depend on the type of mud, but its pretty easy for our models in just about every case UNLESS she gets something IN the eye. That's when you need immediate clean water. I teach the models I work with to immediately look down (tilt the head forward) after surfacing and to pullthe mud down off the face with the hand. The look-down attempts to make gravity assist in causing the mud to fall away. The models are taught always to pull down (toward the chin) and never upward or sideways. They are generally able to open the eyes almost immediately without any issues. Using water from a bottle or hose is, i have found, NOT a good idea at this stage as if this dilutes the mud while still near the eyes it is more likely some will get into the eyes.

The nose is no problem - just breathe out.

The ears are more problematic. Using water from a hose (or a shower) can sometimes push mud in deeper and, especially natural mud that has not been treated in any way, can lead to an ear infection. For anyone mudding for themselves rather than for the camera I suggest use of ear plugs. Get the kind made of wax and NOT the ones made of foam. The foam earplugs are for blocking sound, not water, and will not help much. Q-Tips (a brand name) can be used, with care, to swab out the ears but be very careful to not push it deeper. Many of my models swear by (not at) the use of hydrogen peroxide to help clean the ears.

[joedeep130535]

Fred 588 is the expert on this. My take is definitely earplugs as getting mud out of the ears is difficult & can be bad for your hearing. Eyes kept shut & wiped by hand on emerging is usually ok. Nose yes snort it out but be prepared for mud bogies for a few days!!
I am talking about claypit & estuary mud-peat bogs may well be different

[bogbud]

The thing with the earplugs sounds quite useful, i will try that out, although it was not that bad this time because of the tightly secured hood of my jacket.
Additional question: What do you guys think is the "best" way to sink with your head below the surface?
I did do the one with the head tilted back as far as i could (so as to get fresh air as long as possible, but you get quite a lot of muck in your nose)
Models do that quite often, too, but some do sink with heads in straight position (looks also really cool and bold) and some tilt their head forward (looks not as good and like deliberately dunking your head down but it seems that one gives you more control while sinking).

Wow, that last couple inches generates a lot of questions!

[arisumudvixen]

with the mud in your eyes? you could probably wait a bit, for it to fall naturally, then attempt to wipe it off.

[Fred588]

The thing with the earplugs sounds quite useful, i will try that out, although it was not that bad this time because of the tightly secured hood of my jacket.
Additional question: What do you guys think is the "best" way to sink with your head below the surface?
I did do the one with the head tilted back as far as i could (so as to get fresh air as long as possible, but you get quite a lot of muck in your nose)
Models do that quite often, too, but some do sink with heads in straight position (looks also really cool and bold) and some tilt their head forward (looks not as good and like deliberately dunking your head down but it seems that one gives you more control while sinking).

Wow, that last couple inches generates a lot of questions!

MUCH depends on the condition of the mud. First, if the mud is very thick be very careful about doing a layback. That means not only the head tilted back but the body in a mostly horizontal position. In very thick mud you could find it very difficult to get back up. If the mud is very wet, with water on the surface, then a submergence with the face upward means you may get wter up your nose if there is any on the surface.

I agree that the face down position looks terrible in video but remember your purpose is probably not video.

[Sinkman61]

You do NOT want mud or water in your nose from any sinking area, especially in warmer climates. I cannot over emphasize this. However, if you want to risk your life, go ahead. The reason is a microscopic protozoa. This protozoa bacteria is 100% fatal if it manages to find and attach itself to your olfactory nerve, which is exposed inside your nose. Once it attaches itself, it climbs up that nerve and enters your brain. That's a big problem, because this protozoa's favorite meal happens to be brain cells. It then multiples like crazy, killing the host in about two weeks. Before death the victim suffers from seizures and massive headaches until falling into a coma. There's no cure, and although rare, this protozoa has killed every single person whom got infected. This protozoan happens to live in the silts found on the bottom of ponds, etc, and is easily stirred up off the bottom. Don't take chances. Keep mud and water out of your nose. Don't fall victim to the brain eating bacteria.

[joedeep130535]

@ sinkman 61 That sounds a very nasty way to go-Fortunately not a problem in UK as far as I know but agree take no chances with it

[The Highwayman]

I have a great place for sinking that is quite a big and thick mire and I'm sure that there are areas that are very deep indeed, even close to the edge I can get close to waist deep and at that depth it is extremely difficult to get out. I have said before that I do sink in jodhpurs and riding boots and riding shirt, this does make attempting to struggle free very interesting, so if I sank up to my shoulders I would think it would take a very long time to overcome that kind of suction and even at waist depth it is very difficult to move.

If there were any kind of water, particularly stagnant water on the surface I most certainly would not chance any of it going up my nose or in my mouth as this could make you very ill so take great caution in sinking all the way.

[SmileyMcDeath]

Fred 588 is the expert on this. My take is definitely earplugs as getting mud out of the ears is difficult & can be bad for your hearing. Eyes kept shut & wiped by hand on emerging is usually ok. Nose yes snort it out but be prepared for mud bogies for a few days!!
I am talking about claypit & estuary mud-peat bogs may well be different

I managed to get mud in my ears when I was a teenager, during an immersion. Found the perfect spot, and damn, was it fun.

The month-long ear infection I got as a direct result, though, wasn't that fun.