hi volume mask

[LOG-SPLITTER]

I recently purchased my first dive mask.`sherwood magnum 6`Its a high volume mask my instructor tells me and advises me to get a low volume mask which will help me to rid the water out of the mask when needed.

keeping in mind i`m having diffculty getting all the water out when i have to put my mask back on while under water.

 

[AndyNZ]

keeping in mind i`m having diffculty getting all the water out when i have to put my mask back on while under water.

In reality, so what? You don't have to clear your mask in one breath - so if the mask fits, doesn't leak and you like it then there's no real reason to change.

A larger volume mask will take more air to keep equalised at depth, but again that's a fairly minor thing. I'd much rather have a high volume mask that fitted that a low volume mask that didn't.

 

[chip104]

Hi Log,

I have no problem with my high volume mask. Try it out, see what you think. Since you have it, you might as well use it.

as Andy said, the equalised at depth is a non-issue (for me at least).


Lumberjack from the great white north?

 

[String]

Training standards here state that although being able to clear a mask in one breath is "Preferable" its not essential, especially for the basic course. Just take your time. If it takes 3 blows to clear early on then so be it - its not a problem.
Totally flooded masks are rare underwater - 95% of your mask clearing will be removing an annoying small bit of water pooled in the bottom of a mask and i can guarantee you can do that in one go. Like everything else, you get better with practice.

If you like the mask and it fits well i see no need to change it.

 

[MB]

Totally flooded masks are rare underwater - 95% of your mask clearing will be removing an annoying small bit of water pooled in the bottom of a mask and i can guarantee you can do that in one go.

Not quite. The more you dive, the greater the likelihood that you'll have numerous experiences with flooded masks. Clumsy diver kicks or bumps into you on an up-line; laugh lines result in flooded mask; you take off your mask UW to scratch an itch or rub your nose; a screaming current dislodges your mask fit and you reset it and clear it; the defog starts to wear out and you have to voluntarily flood it numerous times to remove the fog... Flooded masks are not at all rare, and clearing a mask with 1/2 pint volume or air (or more) is not so easy for new and novice divers.

All these and more are reasons why divers should become fluent in mask clearing very early in their diving experience. Automatic skill, less than a breath to clear, not even recognizing that you are clearing it. That sort of proficiency is why we train folks to clear in one breath, breathe without a mask, etc. Given the difficulties most instructors have in teaching this (and some students have in learning it), its best not to increase the difficulty level for the student by using high volume masks during initial aquisition of the skill.

 

[The Kraken]

In most instances it's not the volume of water that's in the mask the causes new diving candidates to have trouble clearing masks, it's the way they go about it.

I've noted in most classes that the aspiring dive expects to clear the mask with one great big, fast, honkin snort through the nose and then slap it back onto the face without a drop of water being trapped - ain't gonna happen!

Slow down when performing this skill and it will amaze you how little air it takes to clear a mask, even a "high volume" mask. Without any empirical data to back up my statistic, I'd guess that 70% of the air used to clear a mask is completely wasted.

The difference in actual volume with respect to the amount of air needed to clear a "low volume" mask and a "high volume" mask is not that significant.

the K

 

[spectrum]

If it's comfortable, doesn't leak and you enjoy the field of view stay with it. A good part of your difficulty will go away with comfort underwater and practice. When certified I generally got my eyes clear in one shot with a second to dry the rest out, no big deal.

The flood should be the exception If you are constantly experiencing what MB described you're folloing your buddys fins too close or diving too much in washing machines. He does make a good point that from time to time you will get a flood or maybe even a full fledged loss that you need to recover from so comfort in these situations should be practiced.

You will have plenty of other stuff to spend money on without rebuying gear early on.

Pete

 

[scubatoys]

The difference in actual volume with respect to the amount of air needed to clear a "low volume" mask and a "high volume" mask is not that significant.

the K

Very correct. I'll have students say it's not possible to clear their mask in one breath, so I'll take it, take one breath, pitch the reg, and clear it 10 times on the one breath. It's all technique, and if someone can do it properly, it makes virtually no difference which mask they have.

 

[DI_Guy]

LOG SPLITTER

I have a high volume mask. ( the Mares ESA ) with six lenses and I also have a low volume mask with one lens. I use both and interchange them often. Both fit well, neither of them leak. My choice of which one to use, is determined by the dive conditions.

I agree with most of the previous comments. Just use the one that suits YOUR needs and the rest will take care of itself.

 

[Dive-aholic]

The only mask that fits me comfortably happens to be high volume. In tech and cave diving low volume is recommended. I've looked around the country and tried on dozens of masks. I still use my high volume mask. The others just don't fit quite right.