Crock
Contributor
What is the down side of using a full face scuba mask. I know the price is about $500 more but what else?
Full face scuba Mask?
- Thread starter Crock
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OP
Crock
Contributor
bumpppppppppppppp
Bonairetrip
Contributor
I see three potential considerations:
a) You typically can't pinch your nose to help equalize (there are other approaches...)
b) If a regular mask dies on a trip, it is fairly easy to buy (or sometimes even rent) a new one. A spare is fairly inexpensive. Not so with a full face, especially with a dedicated reg.
c) The procedures are a bit different (with more task loading) in an OOA situation with a FF.
a) You typically can't pinch your nose to help equalize (there are other approaches...)
b) If a regular mask dies on a trip, it is fairly easy to buy (or sometimes even rent) a new one. A spare is fairly inexpensive. Not so with a full face, especially with a dedicated reg.
c) The procedures are a bit different (with more task loading) in an OOA situation with a FF.
Bonairetrip
Contributor
OP
Crock
Contributor
no and yes a bump. I like to bump and grind. :mooner:
elmer fudd
Contributor
Well, I've never actually used one, but I have read a bit about them.
Downsides:
They're bigger with more drag.
They're harder to clear.
You can't really buddy breathe with one.
You have to remove your mask in the event of a regulator problem.
You have to remove your mask to switch gasses.
If you do remove your mask, you need a spare conventional mask if you want to see anything.
Upsides:
Communications.
Warmth.
No jaw fatigue.
Being able to breathe through your nose.
If you lose consciousness you can keep breathing until your tank is empty.
Downsides:
They're bigger with more drag.
They're harder to clear.
You can't really buddy breathe with one.
You have to remove your mask in the event of a regulator problem.
You have to remove your mask to switch gasses.
If you do remove your mask, you need a spare conventional mask if you want to see anything.
Upsides:
Communications.
Warmth.
No jaw fatigue.
Being able to breathe through your nose.
If you lose consciousness you can keep breathing until your tank is empty.
While I have only dived a couple of different FFMs, I think Elmer got most of the high points. To upsides I would add environmental protection - which would include warmth, but could include contaminants if done properly. To downsides, I edit that depending on which FFM you may not have to remove your mask for an OOA / regulator problem -- the Kirby-Morgan M48 has a removable pod (designed for the Military, the removable pod was requirement for OOA situations). Gas switching can be accomplished through a switch block -- some suggest that's another failure point, you can be the judge of that.
OP
Crock
Contributor
thank you
vjanelle
Contributor
Also increases your dead air spaces, complicates first stages, more parts that can go wrong with a dive essentially. Look around you when you go diving and get a general idea for what people use, if they're not using it there's a good reason why.
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