Full Face Masks!!!

[Aegir]

Thankyou for your response folks. Great DEEP SEA thanks for the info. Heh I can't quite imagine wearing the EXO for
recreational use though, when you snorkel(with the ID) where do you put your FFM?
Thanks everybody for your info it has been influential in my choice to buy a FFM.
Mario I think you are right the ID are proving to be very very popular. San Diego is a nice place? Are you a full time instructor, also what training agency are you with.

I noticed,while watching those pro divers on the television ,that all of them where wearing the yellow model (non-posotive pressure) ID.
I suppose the only real reason to use a positive pressure mask is if your diving in contaminated (non hazardous contaminents) water.
Obviously diving in contaminated water even with a positive pressure FFM doesnt stop you from becoming contaminated by any means, only a diving helmet can do that.
So from what I have read I am lead to believe that the ID is only available to recreational/light work commercial divers in the yellow colour. I am not sure on that one though so dont quote me.

Here is some more info on the ID and other FFM's
http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Lab/3518/DH-FullFace.htm
http://www.airsource-one.com/aga.html
http://www.airsource-one.com/aga.jpg (picture of the ID)

Carlislere/Ron the ID2 comes with its own regulator which is apparently world class in its ease of breathing even at commercial diving depths. I dont know if anyone here can confirm this can they? The mask is available with 2 types of regulators, an ordinary demand regulator, or a 'positive pressure' regulator, which keep a positive pressure inside the mask, this adds an extra safety feature while diving in contaminated or dirty water.

What are the advantages/disadvantages of both posotive and non-posotive forms of the mask?

___________
Experience is not what happens to you. It is what you do with what happens to you.

 

[DEEP SEA]

carlislere
:doctor: Full face masks (ffm) and rebreathers are a tricky situation. You have to really need one to justify what you have to do to make them work. I have used ffm with the MK-15 and LAR-5 rebreathers. What I have found is that in the horizontal position, the breathing bag in the rebreathers is being crashed by pressure causing the gases to flow into the ffm. Thus, the ffm wants to blow off your head. You have to really tighten up the ffm to prevent precious 02 from constantly leaking. This makes for an uncomfortable dive. Also, if using an AGA ffm, you have to change the flow of gas to go directly into the oral nasal. The gases no longer sweep the visor and you have a fogging problem. Navy SEALS use AGA ffm's with the MK-16 rebreathers in SDV operations (Swimmer Delivery Vehicle). They need the ffm for communications. Some team operators have switched to a mouth mask solving lots of problems.

What most Special Warfare divers are doing now-a-days is using a special adapter that is added to the 02 supply hose (see: http://www.oceantechnologysystems.com/LAR5.html for pictures). This adapter has a built in microphone and communication capability allowing communications but not changing the configuration much. Howard Hall uses this device along with his film crew with great success. He won't film without it. The underwater communications saves him time and money.

You will find vendors at DEMA with ffm solutions for rebreathers. Try and find the Steam Machine booth and/or Ocean Technology Systems. Rumors are the Diving Systems International folks may also have a new ffm at the show!

What was your fire to have a ffm with a rebreather? If you have more questions, feel free to contact me.

 

[Aegir]

Now i have a dilemma. At the moment i have an Apeks TX40. I tried my friends scubapro S600/MK20 reg set and it worked like a dream. Now all i have to do is decide wether to get the ID2 FFM or the S600/MK20, pfff decisions decisions.

____________
SHIN - a device for finding furniture in the dark.

 

[Mario S Caner]

No contest! I have two sets od Mk20/G500 units (amongst many other regs) and I've recently tried the ID2 FFM, and it's a no brainer, the FFM wins hands down for comfort. I'm planning a deep dive with my newly ordered ID2 in a couple of weeks so I'll let you know how it does. Duke university tested the reg on it to 1800 feet in a simulation and it blew their socks off, which means I should have no probs in a couple hundred plus feet...