I thought this was just standard procedure in diving. It is taught as one of those things you just don't do. Tell me then, is this just a new diver thing? I take it you veterans don't adhere to this rule
I do follow the "rule," but I do it because I don't want to lose my mask.
Yeah, I guess I would except she is the one who allows or disallows you to dive there (Aquarena Springs).
He is correct in English when gender is unknown, undisclosed or not determined. She can give me rules to follow within reason. When she is getting ridiculous, she can mind her own business.
FYI- I got mine through NAUI......I can see the point about loosing your mask from a wave but distress didn't make sense to me. No mask, now that would be distress....
I can see why it would be undesirable, masks cost money to replace, but why distress?
The way this silly "rule" came about is rather funny. Divers in distress often reject equipment. It is common for divers to spit out regulators and push off masks. Sometimes a rejected mask can end up on the diver's forehead. For that reason, instructors started teaching that rejected equipment can be one sign of distress or panic. A mask on the forehead is one example of this. Now, given this information, you'd never think that a diver with his (undetermined gender) mask on his forehead while BSing with his buddies is in distress. At some point, as the line of instructors got longer, the background information was omitted and sign was changed to signal. This totally changed the meaning. If you are in distress, you'll yell for help and wave your arms. You will not calmly place your mask on your forehead (where you can lose it easily) and wait for someone to notice.
