mask -- with valve or without

[DaleC]

I have a number of masks, 20-30 perhaps, that range in age from new to 1950's era. About half of the older masks that I use have purge valves, it is an idea that has been around for a long time. All of those masks work fine. Anytime I do have an issue with flooding it is leaking around the skirt because of the shape of my face, so for me, this is a far more important feature than purge/no purge ie. a good fit.

I have written an article about the history of mask development in diving that can be read here: The Evolution of the Modern Diving Mask - manfish.ca The Adventure of Grassroots Canadian Diving

I just did a dive with a 1960's era purge valve mask. This design was pre-nose pocket so to equalize one had to press the nose against a neoprene pad (akin to some FFM designs). The purge is original so we could conservatively place it's age at 40 years.

[video=youtube;E18srqOlchs]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E18srqOlchs[/video]

 

[crab4life]

Valve is just another thing to go wrong .02

 

[Kharon]

My appologies. Of course posts have to be anecdotal. And it's not an upstate thing - it's a frustration thing that has nothing at all to do with purges, logic, etc. I've been under a boatload of stress due to a very serious illness that put my Dad in the hospital. He's 92 and is having a very tough time. Over the course of several weeks I've held it together while spending 6-8 hours, sometimes more, at his bedside every day. Unfortunately it's made me a downright pain in the ass. I can't strike out against the illness but I shouldn't get pissy in my posts. I guess it was anger - but nothing to do with purges - simply rage against helplessness. No nead for condolances. It is what it is. I just need to deal with it better.

 

[divad]

My appologies. Of course posts have to be anecdotal. And it's not an upstate thing - it's a frustration thing that has nothing at all to do with purges, logic, etc. I've been under a boatload of stress due to a very serious illness that put my Dad in the hospital. He's 92 and is having a very tough time. Over the course of several weeks I've held it together while spending 6-8 hours, sometimes more, at his bedside every day. Unfortunately it's made me a downright pain in the ass. I can't strike out against the illness but I shouldn't get pissy in my posts. I guess it was anger - but nothing to do with purges - simply rage against helplessness. No nead for condolances. It is what it is. I just need to deal with it better.

Take care man.