fear of losing mask

[divinh]

One thing to think about...the most common mistake that I've seen is people floating on the surface after a dive with their mask resting on top of their head.

I was told that "mask resting on top of head" means the diver is in distress and needs help.

 

[dmaziuk]

Also wonder how a mask behaves off the face and if there is adequate time to reach out and grab it before it sinks.

The one such mask I've seen to date was taken off, when back on boat, and thrown into the rinse bucket a couple of metres away. Just as the boat pitched -- and the mask went overboard.

 

[Bowers]

i have had a mask kocked off by a moray eel that darted out and away when we surprised each other (i was digging through a conch shell pile), otherwise only ever had my mask bumped enough to make it flood a bit by a few uncoordinated new divers.

Buying a neoprene mask strap will eliminate worry about strap breakage,

wearing your mask around your neck while on surface so it doesnt fall off,

even with a broken strap, just water pressure alone will hold the mask to your face after you clear it (so long as you dont breathe out your nose enough to push it off),

and though an extra mask is excessive and adds to the clutter for a recreation dive... it is an option..

 

[divinh]

Since I was doing multi-day dives at one shop, they told me I could keep all my gear together in the same dive bag. I put my personal prescription mask in there, without putting the mask in a plastic hard case. With the way the dive bags are typically transported (tossed, stacked), the mask eventually got damaged - the clips that held the lenses in place cracked. I did notice the potential problem and asked the guides to carry an extra mask for me. Sure enough, upon entry one day, one of the lenses came apart from the frame. I was able to hold the lens in place and signaled to the guide, "trouble... mask". He handed me the spare, I swapped out the mask underwater and continued the dive, though my distance vision was definitely lacking. Back at the dive shop, they happened to have some masks that people had forgotten. One of them was good enough to give me decent vision for the rest of the trip.

Lesson: Always keep the mask in a hard case.

That particular mask always leaked a little bit (maybe due to mustache), so I had plenty of practice clearing. By extension, it was pretty easy to don the spare mask and quickly clear it without being panicked or fussed.

 

[RockiesFan]

I was told that "mask resting on top of head" means the diver is in distress and needs help.

Here we go again...

 

[Barnaby'sDad]

I was told that "mask resting on top of head" means the diver is in distress and needs help.

That’s what it’s supposed to mean.

 

[TMHeimer]

Here we go again...

Yeah, kinda like being a Rockies fan...?
MOF can also mean better vision walking ashore around slippery seaweedy rocks.

 

[dmaziuk]

I was told it's like the "questionable" jokes: make sure you're in the right company before you tell one. Or in this case, that nobody will rush to rescue you when you do it.

 

[George Monnat Jr]

My primary instructor just yells at the person, "Diver, are you in distress?!"

 

[txgoose]

My primary instructor just yells at the person, "Diver, are you in distress?!"

This is rapidly becoming my largest scuba related pet peeve. I have never seen a DM or an instructor mis diagnose a diver in distress. Yet, I have seen a too many of them ask this question. IMO it desensitizes everyone to a possible sign of distress. And/or perpetuates a false narrative. Reminding a diver that they might be more prone to losing their mask just isn’t demeaning enough. It’s always more fun to draw a lot of attention to their “lacky” student.