Question Concerns regarding FFM training

[MoorishK]

During my OW training dives, when I failed to clear my mask, I bolted to the surface. Later, I get comfortable of doing mask removal in the pool with 70 degrees of water. But again, it will be a completely different story in the open water. I am looking to get FFM certified. I am really concerned about the full mask removal drill during the open water section of the course. Since I will be doing it in 50 degrees of water, I am afraid that I will panic as soon as I remove the FFM. There will be an instant where my regulator is not in my mouth, I am afraid that when I panic due to the cold water hitting my face, I will just hold my breath and bolt to the surface, resulting in lung over-expansion. Are there any ways to minimize this risk during the training? And are there any ways that I can prepare for this course?
Thank you in advance.

 

[Nick_Radov]

Pay a qualified instructor to go out to a cold water dive site and run a bunch of mask removal drills with you until you're comfortable. But why do you think you need a FFM?

 

[VikingDives]

Use your finger to break the seal of the mask and slowly, fully flood it. Once it's flooded, remove it. I also wonder why you want a FFM.

I've yet to meet someone new to diving who wanted to learn to dive FFMs who wasn't looking for an equipment solution to a training problem. I even wrote a blog post about it if you're interested.

 

[MoorishK]

Pay a qualified instructor to go out to a cold water dive site and run a bunch of mask removal drills with you until you're comfortable. But why do you think you need a FFM?

Use your finger to break the seal of the mask and slowly, fully flood it. Once it's flooded, remove it. I also wonder why you want a FFM.

I've yet to meet someone new to diving who wanted to learn to dive FFMs who wasn't looking for an equipment solution to a training problem. I even wrote a blog post about it if you're interested.

Thank you for the reply. I just have a fascination with FFM. Also, I learned that if I am in a FFM an passed out in water, I will have a higher chance of survival compare to the traditional mask. Does cold water really make the mask flooding harder?

 

[Sascha314]

You should not be worried to panic, such that you are not passing something.

You should be worried that something happens and you end up in this situation unexpectedly. That can also happen with a FFM, so thats not the solution to this problem.

You need to train this amd get comfortable.
Maybe start with a snorkel in a pool/your tub and decrease temperature.
Try to swim without a mask while diving in a pool for a couple of minutes.
Then partially flood the mask in cold water to easily get comfortable.
Finally practice it while removing the complete mask.
You may also try to do this, if you can stand in the water before the dive - test.the regulator under water while standing and dont wear the mask.

And of course do this under supervision, you may also get better tipps!

 

[Nick_Radov]

Thank you for the reply. I just have a fascination with FFM.

A fascination isn't a great reason to use a FFM for scuba diving. Those are specialized tools for use by experienced divers in limited circumstances, like diving in contaminated water or decompressing from extreme technical dives with assistance from support divers.
If you want to play around with a FFM in a pool just for fun then go ahead. But I don't think you understand what you're getting into.

Also, I learned that if I am in a FFM an passed out in water, I will have a higher chance of survival compare to the traditional mask.

You learned incorrectly. Why do you think you would pass out underwater? Do you have some sort of medical condition that causes syncope? Are you aware that a FFM causes higher gas consumption and makes it harder to donate gas to a buddy?

Does cold water really make the mask flooding harder?

Cold water doesn't make the skills any harder, but it can be a bit of a shock if you're not used to it.

 

[MoorishK]

You learned incorrectly. Why do you think you would pass out underwater? Do you have some sort of medical condition that causes syncope? Are you aware that a FFM causes higher gas consumption and makes it harder to donate gas to a buddy?

Cold water doesn't make the skills any harder, but it can be a bit of a shock if you're not used to it.

I am aware of the risk of diving with a FFM, that's why I wanna get proper training.

 

[grantmac]

I have FFM training, I am required to use them for working dives.
I NEVER dive one recreationally, I do NOT recommend them for recreational divers. They have downsides which cannot be trained around.

The recreational divers I see wanting one are lacking core skills and looking for an equipment solution instead of gaining those skills.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

I used several FFMs and personally never had an issue with the drill.
AFTER having a couple hundred dives without one.
I had to remove and replace my mask in 36-degree water under the ice, where there was no bolt-to-the-surface option, and at 100 feet in 40-degree water in the Great Lakes.
I agree with Grant.
Unless you need the FFM for a working dive, there is no real benefit to one.
And the increased survival thing if you pass out? Unless you are already on the surface, if you pass out underwater and no one realizes it, you're probably dead anyway, even with the FFM.
If you believe you are prone to passing out, you shouldn't be diving in the first place.
Leave the FFM until you have a couple hundred dives and have done mask removal and replace in all conditions to the point where it's a nonissue.
Then, consider the FFM.
Another thing is that removing a mask in cold water is like a slap in the face—the colder the water, the harder the slap! The first time I did it under the ice, I really didn't want to. But I told myself that, like a slap, it would only sting until everything went numb.
But that initial hit? DAMN it hurt.