7milehi:
I noticed that PADI is going to offer a specialty course for this mask. Why would a mask need a specialty course other than the obviou$ ?
First, you have to get a read on "what causes a specialty course". I have written a few that are specific to certain geographic locations, much more specific even than saying that "this" particular specialty course is designed for instructing Tactical Divers or possibly Divers doing encounters with the Loch Ness Monster. A Specialty Course is whatever passes muster by the Gods of PADI. They really aren't easy to establish but can be quite rewarding for those who qaulify to teach as well as those who complete the course. They are not all so esoteric- consider giving a "SCUBA Experience" to mentally handicapped kids. It is a wonderment.
That said, from your post, someone must have written a specialty for the HydroOptix mask. In some respects, not so surprising. It is simply not a beginner's mask, it takes some instruction and skill to operate and get any use out of.
Aside from the odd HydroOptix requirement for being as blind as my girlfriend or her Himilayan cat at a -3.0 correction, there are ways that they have engineered to acheive this effect on a temporary basis, making the mask usable. This is the first part of the HydroOptix puzzle. (I am a -1.5 and have good close up vision- the mask works ok for me even still!)
Then add in the things that SCUBA Divers ised to know how to deal with quite well- unfortunately these abilities and skills were "bred out of us" by technology and engineering. The mask, by design, is a
high volume meask with purge valves. This baffles a lot of divers.
Any mask (and the squeeze) must be equalized by expelling air thru your nose! The higher the volume, the more noticable it is.
Purge valves? Foreign to most and for good reason. They are not needed in any other mask. Easy to learn how and why to use them here- it's the fast way to purge out any water that is inside- this avoids the next issue....
The mask, also by design, leaves "pools of water" directly in the line of sight. Sure it does- for divers with questionable buoyancy and observational skills. To have this complaint, a diver would have to be doing his observations by staring straight down. Advanced divers ghost along walls on their sides, scanning up and down by moving their heads in a left-right swivel. If you are on a flat reef, you should be scanninfg out and ahead just slightly. In either event, what little water is in the mask would not pool in your line of sight.
HydroOptix and many posters on the internet seem to go through contortions and spasms regarding fogging. I think HO is in bed with SeaGold drops because any buyer for this expensive product simplky can't be convinced that
toothpaste will solve
and and all issues with mask fogging.
Before every dive, I don't care which mask you own- a simple dose of toothpaste and a gentle rub. If you are on a boatload of real professionals (I'm not talking "instructors", Scooter), that's what is passed around. I am sure the Specialty Course perpetuates the myth of the need of
Mask defog made from the sweat of the inner-thighs of virgin Swedish Dive Mistresses.
The course? Haven't seen it, but it doesn't surprise me that it exists.
PADI is looking over my Specialty Course that I have put together for the ERDP that I have built a special Ikelite u/w housing for. Maybe soon PADI will do one for the electronic dive compter. the one for "The Orca Edge" looks like it's a go.
The Hydro-Optix mask? It is a wonderful device for an advanced diver- someone who can multi-task and task load.
Check out their website as well as your local dive shows and any pool demos. I always have a HydroOptix mask along on any trip.
