Hood Questions

[Ronniemu]

I am a recently certified diver and have no difficulties with my mask or equalizing. However, when I use a hood, I have problems with my mask flooding. Also, I don't feel the pop in my ears as if I am not wearing a hood. I am not experiencing any pain in my ears, , but is seems different. Any info is appreciated. Thanks, Ronnie

 

[hopeitsapar]

With the hood, you need to make sure that the hood is pulled off the mask, otherwise you will have an overlap, and a leak. Regarding the ears, I do not have an answer to that, with the water held tightly to the head and in the ears, you just might not feel the "pop"



I am a recently certified diver and have no difficulties with my mask or equalizing. However, when I use a hood, I have problems with my mask flooding. Also, I don't feel the pop in my ears as if I am not wearing a hood. I am not experiencing any pain in my ears, , but is seems different. Any info is appreciated. Thanks, Ronnie[/QUOTE]

 

[bradshsi]

I am a recently certified diver and have no difficulties with my mask or equalizing. However, when I use a hood, I have problems with my mask flooding. Also, I don't feel the pop in my ears as if I am not wearing a hood. I am not experiencing any pain in my ears, , but is seems different. Any info is appreciated. Thanks, Ronnie

What I find helpful is to put on my hood and mask. Then I push one finger under the opening in the hood and run it around the edge so that the edge of the hood is pulled clear of the mask skirt and then rests on top of it.

You may find it easier to do this before you put your gloves on.

Provided I went all the way round, I've never had a problem with leaks.

 

[spectrum]

First the flooding, You need to make sure that the face seal or perimiter of the hood is not under the mask. Some hoods come with an oversized face seal that needs to be trimmed. If untrimmed it will bear against the mask and cause problems.

See this post:
http://www.scubaboard.com/showpost.php?p=1089266&postcount=6

Another posibility is that you are getting air in the hood and it's not venting. The air bubble will do weird stuff to your strap and cause leaks. Check the fit around the face and if the hood sd not vented consider melting a few vent holes in the hood near the highpoint while diving. This can be done with a red hot nail, do not breathe the fumes.

Doing contortions while diving can also cause the hood to dislodge your mask. This is most common when you are leading and need to crane around to see if your buddy is still there out back. Get him or her to flank you a few feet back and you will both be better off for it.

As for equalization a close fitting hood can sometimes cause interference. Next time this happens pull the hood away from your ears to let water flow. If this is the problem burning a few well placed vents for the ears may help. Don't get carried away since ice cold water and ears can equal vertigo.

Pete

 

[MyDiveLog]

I hated hoods as a new diver, but eventually got used to them ... in California, the water is simply too cold much of the year to dive without them.

A couple of ideas:
- Put on your hood, then put on your mask. Take a crayon and trace the outline of the mask where it overlaps the hood. Then cut out the outline with scissors. I do this and it elminates the problem of having the hood interfere with the mask seal.
- If you don't trim back the hood, make sure you run your fingers around the edge of the hood EVERY time after you've put your mask in place to assure that the hood is on top of the mask.
- Before you descend, pull out the sides of the hood to let water in your ears. This assures that the hood doesn't hold air in, which is bad for your ears. If you do it a few minutes prior to the dive it will also allow the water in the ear canal to warm a bit, which helps offset possible vertigo.
- Heat a 6-penny nail to glowing hot and poke it through the apex of your hood in a couple of places. It will burn a nice hole and seal it automatically, preventing threads from unraveling. Air from your reg will sometimes escape up into your hood and, if it's not vented, can interfere with the mask seal (and also make you look like a conehead during the dive).
- Make sure the hood isn't too tight ... if you get a headache from wearing it, it's too tight. One way I loosen new hoods is to leave them stretched over a basketball for a week or so when they are new. Wet them first to help them stretch. Some people also put new hoods over a tank end, but I've found the basketball trick to work better.

Good luck!

Phil

 

[NorthernDM]

I agree with all of the aforementioned comments, in fact I would attempt those prior to my last suggestion. As we do a few swift river current dives, we place the mask on our face first, followed by the hood. Again,this should be used as last resort.

 

[joe rock]

Great suggestions here. If you are confident the hood is not interfering with the seal, your mask may be too tight! This was my problem!

JR

 

[Ronniemu]

Thanks, for your advice!

Ronnie

 

[BrianV]

What I find helpful is to put on my hood and mask. Then I push one finger under the opening in the hood and run it around the edge so that the edge of the hood is pulled clear of the mask skirt and then rests on top of it.

You may find it easier to do this before you put your gloves on.

Provided I went all the way round, I've never had a problem with leaks.

I do the same.