Showerthought: I used to insist on full face masks for every shallow dive

I spent 5 years doing harbor work in Seattle always using a full face Kirby Morgan for anything below 20 feet, even though the visibility was usually trash and it just added weight. Last month a buddy loaned me his AGA mask for a 30-foot hull inspection, and I got through the job faster with less neck strain and could actually hear the supervisor on comms. Has anyone else found that switching to lighter gear for certain depths actually works better than sticking with the heavy stuff?

2 comments

2 Comments

eva_ward8824d ago

Honestly, doesn't the situation matter more than the gear type? Ryan's right that full face masks take a beating, but for a calm 30-foot hull check you're just adding unneeded weight. I'd rather save my neck for the sketchy jobs where the heavy stuff actually matters.

ryan71924d ago

Man I gotta push back hard on this one. You're trading safety for comfort and that's a bad habit waiting to get you hurt. I've seen guys get complacent with lighter masks on shallow dives and then a sudden surge or current change slams them into a piling and they wish they had that full face protection. The Kirby Morgan is heavy for a reason, it's built to take a hit and keep you breathing if you get knocked around. That AGA mask might feel nice on a calm day but the second something goes sideways you'll be cursing yourself for ditching the heavy gear.