Full Face Mask Question

[videofly]

If I were to dive with a buddy wearing a full face mask and he experienced an OOA or regulator malfunction, what air sharing technique would I expect to use? Would he need a spare mask or doff his and share air without a mask?

 

[KevinNM]

You should talk about this before the dive.

I don't have/use a FFM but from reading the manual of a few FFM's in general it seems the usual plan is to pull off the FFM and get a working reg in, then pull out and don the spare mask he should be carrying. But there are other approaches that a sufficiently well-prepared diver can set up.

 

[Rich Keller]

If you use a Kirby Morgan FFM this is not going to be a problem. M-48 MOD-1 | Kirby Morgan The mask is modular so the reg can be removed without taking off the mask.

 

[Mustard Dave]

It depends on the mask. The best person to speak to is your buddy, who should brief you what he needs from you and what you need to do if you're OOG. It's no good speculating on an internet forum as none of us know what particular mask he is wearing and how his kit is rigged.

 

[tbone1004]

Daves got the best answer here, but there are a few schools of thought.

Use a QD and carry a bailout bottle or use a switchblock. Odds of a second stage failure are much lower than a first stage failure.

Carry a bailout bottle and/or normal octopus and a backup mask.

Share air per normal with your buddy and carry backup mask.

He should have a "normal" recreational secondary on his kit somewhere to be able to comfortably donate to you though. Even if he has his secondary on a suicide strap, there should be a longer hose for donation somewhere on the rig.

 

[anelson-OTS]

If I were to dive with a buddy wearing a full face mask and he experienced an OOA or regulator malfunction, what air sharing technique would I expect to use? Would he need a spare mask or doff his and share air without a mask?

Check out our video of Doffing and Donning a Guardian FFM underwater as an example : Full Face Mask Training Videos | Ocean Technology Systems

The video is titled " Don and Doff Guardian FFM Underwater"

Hope this helps.

 

[Herb-alaska]

In an air share that my buddy is low on gas then he will get my secondary which I have intentionally placed on a 48 inch hose so that we have room. This hose is run down my side under my arm and up to my necklace where I can find it and I can give it out as well. It pulls out from the necklace very easily. This is unless I am caring my pony rig. If my pony is available he is handed the entire pony set and we ascend with the buddy on my redundant gas supply.

In an air share where I am low on gas I will remove my FFM go on the buddy's second and then I will put on my back up mask from my pocket and we will ascend. Unless I have my pony in which case I would go on my pony and put on my back up mask and ascend.

I can tell you that when I am on a FFM I almost always have my pony available.

the key is that you have to be compfortable being in the water with out your mask and be able to replace and clear it. Mask skills are very important when you dive FFM not that you would need to remove your mask often but that anytime you need to change second stages you have to remove your mask.

In a

 

[Rich Keller]

Here are the US Navy test results for the Kirby Morgan M-48.

View attachment ADA446510-2.pdf

 

[g1138]

Multiple options.

As the FFM diver I can
- Ditch the FFM and share air off an octo/pony (if I have a spare mask I can use it)
- Use a switch block on my scuba kit and change to my bailout bottle
- Using a Quick-Disconnect Check Valve, I can unplug my main tank from the mask and plug in my pony bottle

It all comes down to training an user preference for their kit setup.

 

[kwinter]

Multiple options.

As the FFM diver I can
- Ditch the FFM and share air off an octo/pony (if I have a spare mask I can use it)
- Use a switch block on my scuba kit and change to my bailout bottle
- Using a Quick-Disconnect Check Valve, I can unplug my main tank from the mask and plug in my pony bottle

It all comes down to training an user preference for their kit setup.

What he said. I always carry a spare half mask in a pocket. The FFM can be removed in less than 2 seconds, and this is a skill that must be practiced. I also use a switchblock to plumb in spare gas.


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