Why carry mask backwards at surface?

[addexdiver]

Since this IS the "Hogarthian Diving" forum, the answer should be appropriately biased and everyone is way overanalyzing it...

It is worn backward because Bill "Hogarth" Main does it that way. It usually is because he forgot to put it on the right way, and typically ends up that way post dive so he has better access to his favorite deco brew (beer for short). It really is pretty funny to see him swimming along and finally noticing it still is on backward though. Kind of cute, in a manly sort of way.

Ok I admit it, I have had a few deco brews to start this retort...and I am still laughing myself silly.

Full disclosure. I have never observed Bill care as long as he had a mask to dive with. Carry it in your hands to the water, put the darn thing on before you submerge and keep it on until you clearly do not need it. Soooo...cave divers usually don't have wave action to deal with...put it on backward and start drinking - as soon as humanly possible. Simple. OW divers - gets trickier. Here the technique is to start drinking before you surface so wave action is not a problem. I prefer the shake and suck method myself.

Have I lost anybody yet...beer...beer...more beer...it's ALL about beer!

BTW, Bill likes Yeugling Porter - if you PM me I will send you my address and will ensure Bill gets his fair share...whatever is left...

To those that think you should have a snorkel - keep the reg in your mouth until you get out of the water and viola - the snorkel is superfulous, leave it home and strap on a deco brew instead - preferrably one with a suck tube to aid in decompression. (I am actually serious). If you run out of gas, at least you die happy.

As for the main topic - the mask...definitely overrated. Two empties make a dandy way to see underwater...the Hogarthian way...

Time to take another brew in hand...

 

[rjack321]

Has anyone ever had to beat off rescuers because they actually came to save you with MOF?

I'll go out on a limb and say that most of us just ask/shout "are you ok?" and unless there are a bunch of other red flags mostly disregard MOF as a reason to "save" someone.

 

[opti12206]

I was taught you either wore it backwards or under your chin to signify that you are not a diver in distress. I believe one of the main signs of a frantic diver is mask on the forehead.

 

[llqwyd]

age old debate that will continue to live on...

btw- wear my mask on the back of my head!

 

[DMJulie]

And I bet it has fallen off a few times =oP

 

[jscott099]

There should be an electric shock device attached to the mask of anyone who ever brings up this topic again. BBBzzzzztttt! Ow!

 

[Reg Braithwaite]

There should be an electric shock device attached to the mask of anyone who ever brings up this topic again. BBBzzzzztttt! Ow!

I now have every intention of going MOF for the rest of my career. The debate is ridiculous, but frankly if I surface from a dive and go MOF, it would be a nice bonus if some energetic soul were to throw me a float and tow me to the boat, lift me out of the water, remove my gear, place me in the shade, and provide me with 100% Oxygen. Bliss!

 

[Reg Braithwaite]

Has anyone ever had to beat off rescuers because they actually came to save you with MOF?

No, and until I came to SB I had no idea it meant anything. I've been MOF for three years and nobody has said "boo" to me about it.

Here's a little hint for those taking their Rescue Diver training: If you have to keep telling people not to MOF for fear they will be mistaken for a distressed diver, perhaps MOF is not a statistically reliable indicator.

 

[DA Aquamaster]

Reg is exactly right. Who ever in the distant past thought that MOF was a sign of panic was either an idiot or just badly misunderstood. If the victim wants to get rid of the mask or get it off his/her face, they are gonna fling that puppy away.

Now...getting hit by a flying mask is a possible clue someone may be in a state of panic some where within mask throwing distance. Seeing one on someone's forehead does not tell you anything other than they are on the surface with their mask in a temporary resting position.

At worst having your MOF is a lapse in manners such a using your dinner fork to eat your salad. That is serious as everyone knows that extra tine could put out an eye or something.

 

[SpaceGeek]

There should be an electric shock device attached to the mask of anyone who ever brings up this topic again. BBBzzzzztttt! Ow!

As the OP, I've since learned through this thread that I should tuck the long hose through the mask strap when it's on the forehead, but only when going MOF underwater. Seems like a much safer technique than MOF at the surface.