Purge valve in mask

[Hintermann]

I use a Tusa Liberator mask with a purge valve that I have had for over 3 years and 139 dives and so far it has worked well. But I sometimes wonder about what I should do if the valve failed while diving, thus flooding the mask.

Masks with purge valves are relatively uncommon in the UK and Europe but I understand that they are more popular in America. Therefore, do any of you guys please advice me on the following?

-As long as I wash my mask in fresh water after a dive and keep it clean, what are the risks of the purge valve actually failing?

-In case it does fail during a dive, what action do I take? The theoretical one that I have told myself is to block the hole with my thumb, then try to clear the mask the 'conventional' way and abort the dive with my buddy. I don't know if there is anything else that I can do.

[llqwyd]

As a general rule, we don't recommend purge-valve masks. Just one more unnecessary item to cause a failure (valve).

However, if you insist on diving with it, and are worried about the eventuality of failure, why not carry a back-up in your bc pocket? As far as the dive goes, you should have been taught to deal with this problem. It is not a life-threatening situation but will certainly ruin a good dive.

There is no quick fix for this problem (that I am aware of) and therefore I simply recommend you get a mask without the purge. You have come to the right place for an answer, though. I am curious to see what others have to say about this one.

[miketsp]

Why would a purge valve failure cause mask flooding?
They're normally located at the lowest part of the mask.

When you exhale, just allow a little air to flow out of your nose and leave a trickle of bubbles going out of the purge valve.
It's what many of us with moustaches do routinely when we don't get a perfect under-nose seal.

[dkktsunami]

Why put yourself through the stress of worrying over a valve? Buy a proper mask and become comfortable and proficient at clearing - this is one of the most basic skills you were taught. The "purge valve" is a gizmo.

[Hintermann]

Thanks. I do have a valveless back-up mask but confess that only wear it if going on an overhead environment like a wreck penetration or cavern dive. The valve makes mask clearing easier. I know I should carry a spare but because most of the storage space is taken up by camera kit, torches, DSMB etc, I do not bother to take the second mask as a spare. I should, I guess.

I am surprised that you guys do not recommend masks with purge valves. When I went on a liveaboard dive in Bermuda in 2007, my American buddy told me that they were very popular among the US divers. Also, on a recent trip to the Red Sea, 6 out of 7 Americans on board had masks with purge valves. I guess it was just a coincidence, then.

[herman]

Thanks. I do have a valveless back-up mask but confess that only wear it if going on an overhead environment like a wreck penetration or cavern dive. The valve makes mask clearing easier. I know I should carry a spare but because most of the storage space is taken up by camera kit, torches, DSMB etc, I do not bother to take the second mask as a spare. I should, I guess.

I am surprised that you guys do not recommend masks with purge valves. When I went on a liveaboard dive in Bermuda in 2007, my American buddy told me that they were very popular among the US divers. Also, on a recent trip to the Red Sea, 6 out of 7 Americans on board had masks with purge valves. I guess it was just a coincidence, then.

It's more like 90 out of 100 do not wear pruge mask, most likely it was one shop on the boat and that is what one of the owners/instructors prefers. I can think of only one buddy of mine who wears one. Never thought of it but my guess is a failure of the purge valve would be more a pain that any thing else. The only likely failure I can think of would be for it to start leaking and that would likely start slow and progress over a long period. A fast "failure" would almost certainly be some foreign item stuck on the valve, a good flood and clear would likely solve that issue. They have been around for a lot of years with little appearant problems, my suggestion is to forget about the problem and deal with it if it occurs. Worst case is you have a totally flooded mask...something every OW student should be able to handle easily.

[BDSC]

When I was certified back in 91, my local shop sold Scubapro and they made a mask called the "Trivent" and it had a purge in it. I really like the mask and bought it. I probably have over 400 dives on that mask and have never once had a problem with the purge. Over the years I have switched to other masks thinking I needed something more low profile, and while these masks have been very good, I keep coming back to my tried and tested Trivent.

I even bought another one off of e-bay that was in like new condition and had to pay almost the original price of about $115 to $120. And I was up against a lot of bidders for it.

I have just always like my mask because even though I don't get much water in it, when I do, all I have to do is breathe out my nose a little and the water rushes out without having to lift the mask off my face.

[diver 85]

I'm thinking just the opposite in US??, by that I mean I know of only 1 or 2 divers that use them here locally-maybe we're 'behind the times' & haven't caught up with the rest of the diving world, lol.....

[awap]

I look at a purge valve mask as a warning that a diver may not be as comfortable as they should be with a mask flooding and clearing. I know my wife was that way when she first started. But she resolved the problem and graduated to a regular mask. Other that I have known with a purge mask had similar issues. I'm sure some divers just find them to be comfortable and fit well and have no other issues, but not the ones I know.

[RJP]

Thanks. I do have a valveless back-up mask but confess that only wear it if going on an overhead environment like a wreck penetration or cavern dive. The valve makes mask clearing easier. I know I should carry a spare but because most of the storage space is taken up by camera kit, torches, DSMB etc, I do not bother to take the second mask as a spare. I should, I guess.

I am surprised that you guys do not recommend masks with purge valves. When I went on a liveaboard dive in Bermuda in 2007, my American buddy told me that they were very popular among the US divers. Also, on a recent trip to the Red Sea, 6 out of 7 Americans on board had masks with purge valves. I guess it was just a coincidence, then.

I don't recall seeing a US diver with a purge-valve mask in more than a year or so...