Auger mask air share?

[doghouse]

This weekend I dove with someone with an auger mask. It was a great dive, but the auger mask was supplying him air too quickly and he went low on air early.

My first thought was... Great practice time, lets air share to the surface!

Then I realized how the heck do you air share with an auger mask? Do you have the other person remove their mask, close their eyes and hold on to you as you asscend?

I would like to hear opinions about this.

Thanks

 

[trtldvr]

In answer to your question... yes, but they do not have to close their eyes. What I suggest to someone wearing a full face mask rig is that they set it up with a "bailout bottle" and a side block. This usually would be either a 19 or a 30 cubic ft tank and a valve alowing the diver the ability to change which tank is supplying the breathing gas.

 

[trtldvr]

I was going on the assumption that you were referring to an AGA mask.

 

[Racket]

would it be prudent for him to carry a spare mask in his pocket?

 

[trtldvr]

I would not suggest anyone dive this type of mask without a bailout sytem similarto the one I described. Although airsharing with this type system may not be impossible it is certainly very tricky at best. Another thing to consider as his buddy is, was he diving with any type of octopus in case you had a out of air situation? If not you were both diving solo even if you were side by side the entire time.

How to handle low on air or out of air situations is something that buddies need to discuss before the dive begins, espessialy when one is encountering an unfamiliar gear set-up