Guitarcrazy
Contributor
I purchased an Ocean Reef G Divers mask from a member here on SB. I have been thinking of trying one for a while. I took a quick class from my local instructor and did 2 dives in the pool before leaving for Cozumel. I used it on the first 3 days of diving. I found a lot that I liked, and a few things I disliked about the FFM.
Likes:
I really like being able to breathe out of my nose and mouth. Zero jaw fatigue and no saltwater taste in the mask. When I went back to my normal reg I was surprised how much my jaw was fatigued after just one dive.
Also really like that the mask never fogs. My usual mask typically fogs towards the end of a dive and I have to flood and clear.
I like that the mask keeps your face dry and mouth free of saltwater. I imagine it would be much warmer if diving in cold water.
Dislikes:
Adds another layer of complexity. Mask is larger and can't be tossed in your gear bag as easily as a standard mask
Mask will free flow if you get too head down. I like to poke around under ledges with my light and camera, and frequently get upside down. Mask would free flow and you have to crank down on the breathing effort knob to get it to stop.
Fit is critical. On one dive the top straps weren't set correctly and I had to try to adjust under water. It must have loosened when I took it off on our surface interval, so lesson is to double check the fit and straps prior to every descent. I used the surface air valve on the boat prior to getting in the water and all seemed fine, but when switching to the tank air a leak became evident.
Neutral:
Communications system. I purchased the communications transmitter and the mask I purchased came with a receiver. I didn't have another diver with an FFM, and no real way to test the system so can't really comment on the quality of the communications. I know it works, but didn't get to use it on this trip.
With all of this being said, I think I will sell the mask and comm system as I tend to take a lot of photos and spend a lot of time head down. If I were diving cold water I think I would definitely use an FFM as it was noticeably warmer. It is a quality piece of gear, but for my needs I think the standard regulator works a bit better.
Likes:
I really like being able to breathe out of my nose and mouth. Zero jaw fatigue and no saltwater taste in the mask. When I went back to my normal reg I was surprised how much my jaw was fatigued after just one dive.
Also really like that the mask never fogs. My usual mask typically fogs towards the end of a dive and I have to flood and clear.
I like that the mask keeps your face dry and mouth free of saltwater. I imagine it would be much warmer if diving in cold water.
Dislikes:
Adds another layer of complexity. Mask is larger and can't be tossed in your gear bag as easily as a standard mask
Mask will free flow if you get too head down. I like to poke around under ledges with my light and camera, and frequently get upside down. Mask would free flow and you have to crank down on the breathing effort knob to get it to stop.
Fit is critical. On one dive the top straps weren't set correctly and I had to try to adjust under water. It must have loosened when I took it off on our surface interval, so lesson is to double check the fit and straps prior to every descent. I used the surface air valve on the boat prior to getting in the water and all seemed fine, but when switching to the tank air a leak became evident.
Neutral:
Communications system. I purchased the communications transmitter and the mask I purchased came with a receiver. I didn't have another diver with an FFM, and no real way to test the system so can't really comment on the quality of the communications. I know it works, but didn't get to use it on this trip.
With all of this being said, I think I will sell the mask and comm system as I tend to take a lot of photos and spend a lot of time head down. If I were diving cold water I think I would definitely use an FFM as it was noticeably warmer. It is a quality piece of gear, but for my needs I think the standard regulator works a bit better.
