Yelled at for MOF

[TMHeimer]

Many posts about MOF (frontwards or backwards) and losing the mask. As I stated, I only put MOF when I was shallow enough (walking) to be able to see it on the bottom. That's logical, as is keeping it on your face when surfacing on a boat or deep shore dive. But, the crux of the discussion is that you never should have MOF anywhere, even in a pool or on land. That's the silly part.

 

[Bob DBF]

I would think, however, that his responsibility ended at my safety. Not my compliance with "rules" his shop teaches their OW students.

Following rules is the cornerstone of safety. That being said, it is harder when the rules have little basis in fact, and are not delineated prior to the reprimand.

I never heard of the MOF nonsense until I started on ScubaBoard. I had heard a mask on your forehead was a foolish practice around surf or turbulent water, and had heard to watch for other rejection of gear that would be a better sign that a diver was in distress. I think that training divers with catch phrases, although easier, leaves much to be desired.

So far the SCUBA police has left me alone, seeing a grumpy old diver with ancient beat up gear and a BFK probably have them going for the low hanging fruit.


Bob

 

[charlier]

I knew an old salty instructor that I never actually took any classes from, but was around him enough to know him. I used to help him out once in a while with his open water classes, etc.
So, during the ocean portion of his classes, he would tell students that if he caught them with MOF that he was going to rip it off their head and throw it as hard as he could into the ocean, and they better have a spare mask, or do the class without one, or retake the class.
How do you like that for old school blow hard!!
F.

i think that I had the same instructor in Los Angeles. My habit is to pull my mask around my neck while talking on the surface. Underwater - anything goes.

 

[Patoux01]

I'd have told him to come save me, and just drown that d*ckhead.

I had kind of the same from my AOW instructor:
Him - "If I see the mask on your forehead once more ..."
Me - "Well what are you gonna do if it's there?"
End of discussion

Yes, "MOF" is stupid because eventually you lose your mask (still waiting, 18 years of snorkeling, a few of scuba as well, never happened), but that's your problem not his. It kind of becomes his problem if there's no way to have a spare and it cancels the dive, but that's never happened.

 

[JohnnyC]

I put my mask on my forehead all the time on the surface. It's my mask, my fault if I lose it.

If someone knocks it off purposely to try and prove a point, they're going to get it. If they refuse, they're going with me to get it, their ability to maintain a viable air source is of no consequence to me.

It's common courtesy, don't touch other people ****. Don't be surprised at the outcome if you do. The ONLY time I've ever been in a situation where the status quo changes is when a shop says, "if you're renting one of our masks, it goes around your neck." Their mask, their rules, and I've only been in that situation once, and happily complied. If a boat politely asks, I'm more than happy to oblige, but if someone gets douchey about it, I don't dive with them again.

 

[MikkelBC]

Yes, "MOF" is stupid because eventually you lose your mask (still waiting, 18 years of snorkeling, a few of scuba as well, never happened), but that's your problem not his. It kind of becomes his problem if there's no way to have a spare and it cancels the dive, but that's never happened.

If he is your instructor on a beginner course like OW or AOW, then it is his responsibility to try to teach you good practice.
That said, it is ridiculous to consider a mask on the forehead a distress SIGNAL.

 

[BDSC]

that's a bit excessive

And this is not?

For our students who get caught with masks on their foreheads they have to sing and do the motions to "I'm a little tea pot"

 

[CuzzA]

I've never put my mask anywhere but on my face or my bag on the boat. I just can't think of a situation where I would be in the ocean and remove my mask with x number of feet of water below me... In the pool practicing skills I totally get it as there's little concern for losing your mask and it's easier to have a conversation without it on.

Nevertheless, MOF as a sign of distress... Maybe, odds are there are going to be better indicators. I imagine very few of us will ever see a diver truly in distress except maybe on YouTube, like this one for example... Look at where her mask ends up.


Do pool dives count for ?

 

[Patoux01]

Look at where her mask ends up.

Oh cool, now I can go to people and say mask around their neck is a sign of distress and that they need help. Thanks for that!

 

[gypsyjim]

Stuart,I knew there was a point I wanted to make way back and figured it out. So the instructor booked the local pool and you and your buddy joined in. You mentioned the instructor said he was "in charge" of the pool. You mentioned there were also a lot of swimmers and coaches there (sounds like the pool we used to use). Was the instructor just "in charge" of the deep end, or the divers? You paid $25 entry fee (our local public one is $4 Canadian). Anyway, what sort of responsibility did the instructor have legally for you two? That may change things. If not, I figure you were not in either of his courses so your MOF was none of his business since you weren't putting anyone else in danger.
Funny how some subjects generate a lot of posts quickly. Some of my favourites besides MOF are--
--What dives to log. Man you get like 5 pages the same day.
--Snorkel or no?
--PADI MSD--worth it AND pay for the card?
--PADI vs. NAUI (ongoing right now)
Can't think of the others, but admit I like the old stuff. Then again, I'm retired so at night it's basically here or TV.

Throw in a post on split fins, Air2, or, bc or bpw, and then sit back and enjoy the show..