Extra Mask when diving??

[k4man]

A quick question for those of you who are DiveMasters, Instructors, or above.

Do you dive with an extra mask? If so, what do you recommend and where to "stash" it during the dive??

thanks.

Kevin:14:

 

[RICHinNC]

How about below????

I carry a frameless mask in a pouch on my waist belt. Small but would still allow me to surface uneventfully.

 

[Orlando Eric]

I am a "fun" Diver. Mostly I jump in and dive without "oh my god depths", overhead enviroments, or the tigers, lions, and bears. I can see my computer enough to see if it is beeping and flashing the LED without a mask.

If I am planning a penetration or some sort of dive were I HAVE to have a mask then I'll rig one to the BC as I do not have pockets, Or easier than that.. zip it into the Wetsuit.

In a pinch you can just drop a spare around your neck but I am sure that is in violation of some sort of DIR/Techie law of the universe.

 

[loosebits]

Yep, I carry a frameless mask in my wetsuit/drysuit pocket. A failure of a mask in OW isn't really that big a deal - it ends your dive but you should be able to ascend just find without a mask. A busted mask 2000' back in cave isn't really a big deal either but it sure is a long way to swim without being able to see.

 

[do it easy]

I love these kinds of threads. I'm with loosebits- I have a backup mask in my drysuit pocket and I tether it by the strap with a double ender to the gear loop. That way, I don't loose things if they fall out and the double ender can be used as a spare.

I've heard some people say that they apply defog to the backup, but I never do. I just don't think that it would last that long... maybe some experiments are in order...

 

[rookers]

Mine goes in the drysuit pocket. I have been drilling decompression stops without mask lately and hope to never have to do it for real.

 

[Double_D]

Frameless mask - right kidney pocket, every time. Part of my mental pre-dive gear checklist.

IMHE, we default to our lowest level of training when things come unstuck in an unfunny way. Sure I don't NEED it - I choose to carry it because my preference is to use my vision where possible. Your mileage may vary.


And I do defog it.

 

[MissyP]

Drysuit pocket... Along with the safety sausage, depth finder, extra light, slate, etc.. lol

 

[CoalBoy]

...not a DM, instructor nor an above...

Yup! I do carry an extra mask even during OW fun dives. I keep it in the waist-mounted pocket attached to the harness. Also, i put a smudge of toothpaste as defogger.

We have a backup regulator or an octo, we have a backup inflator or just manual mouth inflation, we have a pair of fins and we train to use just 1 in case of loss of the other, the mask is probly the one item that we don't routinely have a backup for.

IMHO, we should.

 

[BarryNL]

A quick question for those of you who are DiveMasters, Instructors, or above.

Do you dive with an extra mask? If so, what do you recommend and where to "stash" it during the dive??

I'm not a DM or above, but I dive with an extra mask. It goes in the big bellows pocket I glued onto my drysuit.