Full face mask ambient air valve update

[oldflounder]

I have been using the Scubapro ffm for my last dozen "dives" and am starting to get comfortable with it. The ambient air valve has a plug that unscrews, Is there a valve out yet that can be opened and closed with just a twist? It is hard to use this plug with winter gloves on and I fear dropping it. Is there something that I can adapt to put in this space from another manufacturer. Is it possible to move this valve from the right side to the left side? Thank you for your anticipated response.....Joe

 

[Allen Herron]

The valve on an AGA mask just pops out and in. When you are ready to dive you just tap it in. Gloves no problem!

 

[SCUBAPRO Harry]

The surface air valve can’t be lost as there is a pin that prevents the plug from being threaded completely out. The plug can be moved to the other side of the mask, but the safety buttons on each portion of the strap will need to be replaced as they will be destroyed removing them to un-lace the straps from their respective buckles.

 

[oldflounder]

The ambient air valve has a plug that unscrews...it is hard to use this plug with winter gloves on and I fear dropping it...

Well my fears were realized - I had the plug/cap in my fingers and was experimenting with breathing through the ambient air valve up against the shore in 8' of water and lost the plug. While searching around for it I went beneath the surface several times and found that I was able to breath fine with no water coming in through the valve. So what's with that? Do you mean to say I don't need the plug in place during the dive. I only tried it down to 10' with no leaks even when I turned the right side of my face up so that air mght leak out. Is there a certain depth at which the one way valve will fail because of ambient water pressure??? I wish this mask came with instructions! Can any Scubapro ffm divers chime in with their experiences?

 

[oldflounder]

I have noticed on my last couple dives with this mask that I can go down at least 10' without needing the ambient air valve plug/cap in place. It doesn't leak in water unless I turn my head to the right so that the valve is closest to the bottom. My question is - how deep can I go without the cap in place before the flapper valve fails in some way or is it pretty much fail safe so long as there is some positive pressure in the mask?