Mask on forehead=panic. Where did this mask signal originate?

[AsherN]

Agreed. As one who wears a mask with prescription lenses, it's far easier to quickly and single-handedly shift the mask up onto my forehead when necessary (i.e. to look at something very close such as my DC, gauges, or notes) and back down again. The strap is less likely to twist than if I pull the mask down around my neck, too. Obviously, awareness of conditions (waves) is important, and like most things there's really no definitive "correct way"—it all depends on the diver and the situation. I have an instructor friend who proabably thinks I owe him a lifetime supply of beer for all the times he's called me out for MOF.

As someone who wears a prescription mask with a bifocal prescription, I'll wear my mask on my forehead on the boat until ready to giant stride, because the line between far and near vision can really mess up you perception

 

[Jai Bar]

The habit may have started (and probably still practiced) in the military. I can imagine navy seals (or whatever country commandos) at night in choppy seas riding in a RIB and the waves washing over board any gear not secured and of course ripping masks placed on forheads, then they get to the DZ and GI Joe (or Jane) can't dive because mask was lost on the way...

In the 60-70s, a lot of scuba instructors were ex-military and often brought their techniques and habits into civilian world.

Funny, I was once standing in the water waiting for my class to come, a person walking on the beach saw me alone with MOF minding my own business and came running to me shouting "don't panic! I will help you!" then grabbed hold of me and tried "to calm me down" mumbling "it's okay, I'm holding you" and I am like "WTF dude, leave me alone".. Those little misunderstandings in life

 

[Knockneed Man]

A mask on your forehead indicates just as much diver stress as sunglasses on your forehead.

 

[AJ]

Why would you do that?

Why not? I'am asking because a lot of people seem to think this is very dangerous behaviour. In reality a skilled diver should be confortable without an reg in his/her mouth under water. No reg is no reason to panic

For me it's an easy way to get my body in 'dive mode'. Besides that, I dive a lot in cold water. Breathing on the surface leads to free flowing reg.

 

[iliketopetsharks]

Underwater, divers need masks to be divers....without them they are indeed flotsam relegated to the surface.

No offence, but maybe you could work on getting comfortable without a mask. It's not much different than diving in very bad visibility, and if you freak out without a mask and lose control of your breathing and buoyancy control, you might run into problems.

 

[The Chairman]

If your regulator tends to freeflow on the surface- when it's in your mouth- which I never heard of,

It happens and has nothing to do with intermediate pressures. The venturi effect causes a cooling effect in the reg as gas expands. Water at/near freezing temps can then freeze the valve open, which causes it to get even worse. Not something I deal with here in Florida, but it's common enough in northern climes.

 

[jadairiii]

I've never really heard about the "mask on head distress" indicator. 1975 my instructor told us never to put your mask on your head because the slightest wave will knock if off....and you lose your mask.

 

[Wallowa]

No offence, but maybe you could work on getting comfortable without a mask. It's not much different than diving in very bad visibility, and if you freak out without a mask and lose control of your breathing and buoyancy control, you might run into problems.

No offense taken....for 25 years I trained divers....mask removal [R&R] underwater was mandatory skill without panic...we still practiced buddy breathing and in OW did that with and without masks on both divers....yes, learning to relax in unexpected situations and sort them out is a requisite to becoming a safe and self-sufficient diver [self-sufficiency seems to have fallen by the wayside]....just my take, but fewer "skills under stress" are taught and more reliance is placed on adding more gear...

This is not about military vs non-military diving.....masks are required and loss of a mask disables the diver, whether at the surface or underwater....I am not trying to coopt anyone's choice to dive in any configuration or mode they choose; firm believer in personal choice and accountability....

My divers were my responsibility and there is no substitute for correct training and scrutiny of skills to keep them safe. Not all persons who want to be divers can make the cut; nor should they for their own survival and that of others.

Can and should a diver be able to function without a mask? Of course. But to invite the loss of a mask by placing it on the forehead or back of the head defies common sense. Fine for Instagram poses or for identifying with a group, but not if you want to remain fully operational to dive.

Hard won lessons over the decades should not be discarded unless proven to be ineffective; dropping the mask around the neck insures mask retention, on a boat or in the water, and is effective.

Individuals should dive in a manner they choose, but please don't introduce or espouse diving practices that could result in placing divers in harms way. Loss of mask, even for an experienced diver, disables the diver and can start an unexpected negative chain of events.

 

[Ty Hamby]

I understand that it originated in the early days with the PIOOMA certification agency. Loudly and often repeated by their instructor corps. Unfortunately, many folks heard it and took it as gospel. It's kind of like the folks that say if your aluminum tank is over 10/15/20 years old it must be condemned or at the very least is unsafe to fill. That bit of wisdom came directly by way of extensive PIOOMA propaganda. "It's for the children!"

The credentials of PIOOMA have generally not been well recognized, for many good reasons. This is likely one of them.

I am trying to find it in print. An early training manual or magazine. This will help in my quest to find its origination. I am starting to believe it may be a Mandela effect.

 

[Wallowa]

I am trying to find it in print. An early training manual or magazine. This will help in my quest to find its origination. I am starting to believe it may be a Mandela effect.

Ty....

Forget about training manuals or even instructors advising/requiring that propping the mask on the forehead is a no-no.....apply logic and common sense coupled with in-water diving experience....as discussed removal of the mask from you face may or may not be an indication of distress; either underwater or topside.....hopefully none of your will witness or be involved with a full-blown panicked diver in the water...sometimes they are comatose and inert; so stressed that they are unable to act let alone move....but as mentioned, quite often the highly stressed or fully panicked diver at the surface wants to 'climb out of the water' [using you as the pedestal ripping off you mask and pulling out your regulator in the process if you were foolish enough to approach them from the front], flails arms, knocks their mask off their face and often over inflates BCD....they want 'out', out of water and out of the constraining gear...oddly they often never release weights...many drowning victims are found with weights attached.

If you truly believe this is a "Mandela Effect" then you have not witnessed a panicked diver or had to come to their assistance. Not a criticism; in fact hope you never will. Panicked divers divesting themselves of gear and removing mask to "breath" in effort to end the claustrophobia is a real consequence of their all consuming fear they are going to drown. Not "poppycock" as you mentioned and yes I have observed this level of disfunction and panic in divers.

From your post I think I understand 'why' you are searching for the source of the edict not to place your mask on your forehead [or the back of your head for that matter]; you believe it was passed on through education or training in spite of it not being an indication of a diver in distress. 'Mandela Effect'. "In print" is not the vouchsafe; observing panicked or highly distress divers in the water or even on shore or the boat will verify the actions and behavior indicative of a person who really does not want to dive and is fearful. So many "tells" indicating stress; you just need to recognize them early to abate full on panic or worse.

Placing the mask on the forehead or anywhere but covering the face can of course be a deliberate act to reveal the face. Individual reasons notwithstanding. Fine. But why not drop it into a secure retention position around the neck? No, it does not choke the diver nor constrain movement. Yes, even with a snorkel attached to mask strap.

Anyway enough. To each their own. Seek information then make your own decisions.