Question Be Part of the Evolution: Influence the Next Generation of SCUBA Gear

[RheoDive]

You might be better off designing a hud that would clamp on to the top of any mask instead of a full mask design. That would open up a much larger market as many of us are picky about the mask that we use. For instance I have been using the same mask design almost exclusively for the last 40 years until I switched to the Scubapro HUD a couple of weeks ago and had a limited selection of compatible masks to choose from. You could probably design a universal clamp that would work with most masks that have a frame and a separate mount for full face masks.

Thanks for the feedback. This is a great topic that maybe I could share more on the design choices for the mask! We actually explored a clamp-on HUD early in development since we know a lot of divers (myself included) prefer to stick with their favorite mask.

The issue we ran into was with the way it felt in the water. The weight, drag, and buoyancy just didn’t line up the way we wanted. It threw off balance, created visibility issues, and didn’t feel seamless during the dive. Bottom line, it was easier to look down at a dive computer than it was to get the HUD to work.

My design philosophy for the Rheo mask is to dive “in the flow”. Meaning a seamless comfortable experience that enables professional divers to focus on the job and recreational divers to enjoy the scenery.

We ended up going with a fully integrated design so we could control how everything sits and moves underwater. It keeps the HUD low-profile and out of the way until you need it.

That said, I’d love the opportunity to convince you we are building a great mask from the ground up! Really appreciate the input and would love to hear more ideas as we grow.

 

[lexvil]

All of the above + compass and MH8 transmitter!

The reason for this transmitter is that you will sell a lot more masks if people don’t have to buy an extra transmitter and that is the most common type.

 

[Lostdiver71]

Another thought is to offer different size interchangeable skirts to fit multiple face shapes and sizes.

 

[RheoDive]

Another thought is to offer different size interchangeable skirts to fit multiple face shapes and sizes.

Absolutely! This will be easy to do given the modular approach. So long as the connection to the frame is the same, we can have multiple sizes.

We will be using a double seal 100% soft-silicone skirt for a leakproof seal while diving. Great point to offer multiple size options!

 

[RheoDive]

All of the above + compass and MH8 transmitter!

The reason for this transmitter is that you will sell a lot more masks if people don’t have to buy an extra transmitter and that is the most common type.

Spot on! We intend to offer air integration compatible with MH8 standard. We aren’t there yet as it’s tricky to find the MH8 API published.

 

[-JD-]

Spot on! We intend to offer air integration compatible with MH8 standard. We aren’t there yet as it’s tricky to find the MH8 API published.

Not really

Reading Wireless Air Transmitter using Arduino

OK I'll give you "published"

 

[scubadada]

Best of luck. The Oceanic Datamask was never particularly successful but had a small following. You could probably get a license from PPS to use their transmitter. I would imagine that's what Shearwater did. It's hard to believe that divers would go for this with another proprietary transmitter system.

 

[Wibble]

Wonder why nobody’s done this before…

Dive computers, be they wrist or mouthpiece mounted, are complex pieces of equipment that must be reliable. Dive computers are expensive, generally the most expensive piece of kit for recreational divers.

A mask is a vital piece of equipment for diving, so vital that many divers carry a spare mask, especially for more demanding dives. Lose the mask and your vision is completely impaired and your dive is now very difficult. Masks are also a pain as they fog up, leak and need to fit. Masks aren’t expensive and you must get one that fits your face shape.

So, why put those two things together?

I’ve a Shearwater Nerd on my rebreather. This is amazing and especially for navigation where the compass is right in front of your face. Brilliant; until I bail out when it’s useless as I cannot see the Nerd computer, which is why I have a Petrel on one arm and a Perdix on the other. But hey, that’s not recreational diving…

The other idea is to mount a HUD (head up display) on your mask. That’s not exactly simple as you can’t drill holes in a mask for mounting brackets. Maybe you could glue it to the mask; oops, it fell off and Neptune claims another trinket; he does love shiny things. Halcyon are selling this concept for their new rebreather. Bit of a b’stard if you’ve got to swap masks as the HUD isn’t easily transferable from one mask to another. Oh, and their HUD & wrist mounted monitor display are wireless receivers from the controller computer.

In summary, a mask at well under $200 is merged with a computer at $1000 for a product that won’t fit all faces; has severe limitations; isn’t Shearwater Cloud compatible (it’s a consideration); hasn’t been fully tested with millions of dives; will need rechargeable batteries (the Nerd’s a pain for this); will be stuck with whatever user interface is created (how to cater for simple recreational needs, advanced recreational needs (e.g. some deco), complex lightweight technical diving (gas switching, deco, algorithm adjustments, more data e.g. Surf GF, etc.)….

How many mask variants are you going to make for different face sizes? Will the computer modules clip on to that mask, e.g. changing from one mask to another. And when someone treads/sits on/drops a cylinder on your mask, do you throw the whole thing away or can you get a new skirt and faceplate?


Maybe brand it for Avelo as it would work well for them.

 

[lexvil]

Wonder why nobody’s done this before…

Dive computers, be they wrist or mouthpiece mounted, are complex pieces of equipment that must be reliable. Dive computers are expensive, generally the most expensive piece of kit for recreational divers.

A mask is a vital piece of equipment for diving, so vital that many divers carry a spare mask, especially for more demanding dives. Lose the mask and your vision is completely impaired and your dive is now very difficult. Masks are also a pain as they fog up, leak and need to fit. Masks aren’t expensive and you must get one that fits your face shape.

So, why put those two things together?

I’ve a Shearwater Nerd on my rebreather. This is amazing and especially for navigation where the compass is right in front of your face. Brilliant; until I bail out when it’s useless as I cannot see the Nerd computer, which is why I have a Petrel on one arm and a Perdix on the other. But hey, that’s not recreational diving…

The other idea is to mount a HUD (head up display) on your mask. That’s not exactly simple as you can’t drill holes in a mask for mounting brackets. Maybe you could glue it to the mask; oops, it fell off and Neptune claims another trinket; he does love shiny things. Halcyon are selling this concept for their new rebreather. Bit of a b’stard if you’ve got to swap masks as the HUD isn’t easily transferable from one mask to another. Oh, and their HUD & wrist mounted monitor display are wireless receivers from the controller computer.

In summary, a mask at well under $200 is merged with a computer at $1000 for a product that won’t fit all faces; has severe limitations; isn’t Shearwater Cloud compatible (it’s a consideration); hasn’t been fully tested with millions of dives; will need rechargeable batteries (the Nerd’s a pain for this); will be stuck with whatever user interface is created (how to cater for simple recreational needs, advanced recreational needs (e.g. some deco), complex lightweight technical diving (gas switching, deco, algorithm adjustments, more data e.g. Surf GF, etc.)….

How many mask variants are you going to make for different face sizes? Will the computer modules clip on to that mask, e.g. changing from one mask to another. And when someone treads/sits on/drops a cylinder on your mask, do you throw the whole thing away or can you get a new skirt and faceplate?


Maybe brand it for Avelo as it would work well for them.

Oceanic Data Mask HUD w/transmitter | Dive Right In Scuba - Plainfield, IL

This really does change things. Every once in a while a revolutionary product comes along that changes everything. The DataMask is not just about having a computer in your mask – it is about the many practical benefits provided by truly “Hands-Free” diving. We are extremely excited to announce...

www.diverightinscuba.com

 

[Subcooled]

We’re building something extraordinary: a next generation dive mask with an integrated computer and heads-up display (HUD) designed to keep divers safer, more aware, and fully in the flow.

But the best innovations start with the people who use them.

That’s why we’re asking YOU, the divers, adventurers, photographers, professionals, and weekend warriors, to help shape what features matter most!



View attachment 910215

Take a moment to vote on what you would love to see in the future of diving gear. Your feedback will directly influence how the next generation of RHEO Dive technology is built.


Let’s build the future of diving together.

We need depth, dive time, orientation (compass). Ascent rate warnings, air integration and average depth would be nice, too, but please make this somewhat affordable or you'll experience the Oceanic DataMask fate.