42 replies to this topic

[Dive_Girl]

A mask on the forehead is NOT a sign of distress. That's one of the biggest myths in diving.

If this is the case, then why do most of the certifying agencies teach it and so many divers go by it as a rule?

My opinion: Because it is easier to reguritate handed down info than to put individual thought into something.

I tell my students to leave their masks on their faces for the duration of the pool session (to get used to it) and in open water (so as not to lose it) based on my own personal past teaching experiences. I have also had to retrieve lost masks for non-students for the same reasons, but I am not their instructor so if they lose a mask because of poor handling with it, well that is their choice. I just tell them if I find their mask first, I get to keep it...

And I agree with diving with a back-up mask and I always have a second one in my float when I am teaching to avoid having to take a whole class in if a mask is dropped over deeper water.

[secretsea18]

Proper surface mask placement is like diving with or without a snorkle. There are no scuba police to give you a ticket.

Cephalopod

Thank goodness there are no dive snorkel police. What a useless item to be dangling from your mask while diving. All snorkels should be safely tucked away inside BC pockets while diving.

[ScubaDadMiami]

A mask on the forehead is NOT a sign of distress. That's one of the biggest myths in diving.

If this is the case, then why do most of the certifying agencies teach it and so many divers go by it as a rule?

For the same reason that a lot of instructors teach to open the tank valve, and then to close it a quarter turn. There was once a basis upon fact for the action (old valves used to have problems sticking if left all the way open after pressurizing). Then, people kept doing it because that was the way that someone did it a long time ago.

[Photographic Mercenary]

The mask on top of your head is so that the dive shops can sell you more masks.
Way back when sex was safe and diving was dangerous around here if you got cought with a mask on top of your head you owed that person that busted you a beer.
Rookies brought lots of beer.
But that was when you could have a brew between dives to cut the salt taste in your mouth.

[Terri]

But that was when you could have a brew between dives to cut the salt taste in your mouth.

ummmm....you can't do that anymore?

(just kidding....or am i? )

[WreckWench]

But that was when you could have a brew between dives to cut the salt taste in your mouth.

ummmm....you can't do that anymore?

(just kidding....or am i? )

Really...you've figured out how to get rid of the salt taste! Pllleeeeaaaaaaasssssseeeee share with us how!!!

[Photographic Mercenary]

Well from what I have read but not experienced in 2.5 years.
If you have an adult beverage between dives you should extend you surface interval by at least 15% or one gratuitous recreational sexual encounter, which ever takes longer.
Bottoms up!

[ScubaHawk]

But that was when you could have a brew between dives to cut the salt taste in your mouth.

ummmm....you can't do that anymore?

(just kidding....or am i? )

Really...you've figured out how to get rid of the salt taste! Pllleeeeaaaaaaasssssseeeee share with us how!!!

You don't want to get rid of the salt taste. Here's how you do it. After the dive lick your lips, throw back a shot of tequila then bite a like slice. The salt taste fits in just fine.

[Walter]

Really...you've figured out how to get rid of the salt taste! Pllleeeeaaaaaaasssssseeeee share with us how!!!

After dive pill. Peach Jolly Ranchers are best, but hard to find.

[Walter]

A mask on the forehead is NOT a sign of distress. That's one of the biggest myths in diving.

If this is the case, then why do most of the certifying agencies teach it and so many divers go by it as a rule?

Because they aren't really experts at diving. Because they learned it in class.

[Basslet]

For the same reason that a lot of instructors teach to open the tank valve, and then to close it a quarter turn. There was once a basis upon fact for the action (old valves used to have problems sticking if left all the way open after pressurizing). Then, people kept doing it because that was the way that someone did it a long time ago.

Yup. I was taught that way and sometimes I still do it. Messes up my pressure gauge on some dives. LOL

[Walter]

For the same reason that a lot of instructors teach to open the tank valve, and then to close it a quarter turn. There was once a basis upon fact for the action (old valves used to have problems sticking if left all the way open after pressurizing). Then, people kept doing it because that was the way that someone did it a long time ago.

Actually, that one is legit. Valves can stick open, coming back off just a crack (I don't know why folks use a quarter turn) prevents this. It's a good idea on all valves, not just SCUBA.

[Dennis]

Shedding gear is a sign of panic and severe distress. Besides, Mike Nelson always put his mask on his forehead and I never saw him in distress.