Which of the following is a sign of facemask or body squeeze?

• A. Pain and suction in the face
• B. Shortness of breath during ascent
• C. Dizziness after surfacing
• D. Headache during descent

Answer: (A)

Facemask squeeze shows up as facial pain with a suctioning feeling on the face. As you descend and the surrounding water pressure increases, the air space under the mask gets compressed and pulls the mask tight against the skin, creating both pain in the mask-covered areas and a noticeable suction sensation. This facial clue is the hallmark of a mask squeeze, distinguishing it from other dive problems. Shortness of breath during ascent points to lung-related issues like pulmonary barotrauma, dizziness after surfacing suggests decompression illness or gas embolism, and headache during descent can be a sign of decompression-related issues as well—none of these describe the mask pressing on the face.