PADI Instructors

[Mwright15]

The most despicable example though is the Offcial PADI magazine Sport Diver where the editor of all folks Ty Sawyer, stands there on the editorial page with his mask high on his forehead. I don't think he ever stopped to think how doofus it makes him look and how much credability it robs from him.

Ah so glad someone else noticed that, makes me chuckle everytime I see that photo..

On the mask issue, I've mostly seen techie (TDI) divers (on course) doing it, so not sure if it's anything they teach. Could be something to do with their redundancy?

 

[String]

I cant see how failing to follow a particular agencies brainwashing on something as down to personal choice as mask placement robs anyone of any credibility.

 

[Goose75]

I took my PADI OW in Texas and my AOW in Washington. In both places it was common and I remember at least one of the instructors teaching it.

I never really understood the "distress" with it forward on your forehead either. The one time I was actually in distress it was the last thing from my mind. My first thought was the weightbelt and that belt didn't leave my thoughts until I was headed to the bottom unless I let it go. To me, that day was unrational frenzied panic. Through it all, it never occured to me that I even had a mask on.

If I see a diver with it on his forhead, I don't immediately think "diver in distress". There would have to be other signs in addition to it to clue me off there is trouble. Most often it is either inexperience or someone who disagrees.

 

[Walter]

The concept of a mask on the forehead being a sign of distress is silly at best. People in distress often reject equipment, once in a great while, the mask may end up on the forehead, but more likely it'll be sinking to the bottom. In the rare instance when a rejected mask does end up on the forehead, you're not likely to think, "His mask is on his forehead, he must be in distress." You will be thinking, "Damn, that guy is thrashing around like crazy, we'd better help." If a distressed diver has his mask on his forehead, there are other things indicating distress that will be far more noticable. I wish people would stop teaching this misinformation. OTOH, a mask on the forehead is more likely to get lost than one securely placed where it belongs on the head.

 

[padiscubapro]

The mask backwards on the head is common amongst tech divers regardless of agency..

If things are calm, it is more confortable not having the mask on your face..

Most techies bungie their backup regs (sometimes both) around their neck, there is no room to confortably have both there.. This clearly shows the diver is in control and the mask is easy to put on when necessary..
It should also be noted most techies and RB divers don't wear a snorkle either because it gets in the way as well..

When I do alot of surface work the mask is on backwards so I can retrieve it immediately, and there is little chance of me losing it.. I definately don;t worry about body oils, if you mask is properly cared for it will lask along time.. Most defog agents are some form of degreaser to boot, so oils wount build up..

I have a very basic question mostly directed toward PADI Instructors but I am interested in other agenicies' instructor comments also.

I did my open water cert. with IDEA and my advanced cert. with PADI. In my open water course I was instructed, correctly I think, to never wear my mask on my head. The obvious reasons, it is seen by many people to be a distress signal and, I think more importantly, if a wave knocks it off it's gone and you are out of luck. I think this is/was taught by all the agencies.

Naturally this was really not discussed much in the PADI advanced course as you should already know this protocol by the time you take the advanced course.

I have always practiced this and don't even think about pulling my mask down around my neck. Over the years I have seen a few people wearing their masks on their forehead but not a lot. So few in fact that I probably never conciuosly noticed it most of the time.

Now here's the kicker. I was recently at a local dive spot that many people visit regularly but that I myself had never been to. While I was there I saw probably 25 divers wearing their masks on their heads and turned around backwards. It was very noticable and I thought it looked so strange that I just had to ask.

What in the world is going on here? Did I miss the memo or something, why does everyone go around with their masks not only on their head but turned around backwards?

A PADI instructor happened to be there with a group doing their open water check out dives. He told me that it was common place, a recent change in the PADI protocol, and that he taught this in all his courses. He must have taught everyone there at one time or another that's for sure. He went on to explain that a person in distress would not take the time to turn their masks around backwards so it is not seen as a distress signal.

When I mentioned to him about the increased possibility of losing the mask when worn on the head he chuckled and said that happen to a fellow he had sold a $75.00 mask to not long after it was purchased and he never recovered it.

:06: So the question is. Is this a local phenomenon, has PADI recently started to teach this habit or was this PADI instructor some kind of nut?

These were very intelligent people doctors and engineers and the like and they all just thought nothing of it. I wish I had pictures of these folks I could post it really looks alien to see everyone entering and exiting with their masks on backwards. I don't know if I could ever get used to it but it sure didn't seem to be noticed by anyone else there.

They probably thought I looked like some kind of freak with my mask down around my neck. :11: I'm sure I was noticed by someone, I probably stuck out like a sore thumb. :33:

 

[Don Burke]

If I see a diver with it on his forhead, I don't immediately think "diver in distress". There would have to be other signs in addition to it to clue me off there is trouble. Most often it is either inexperience or someone who disagrees.

I interpret it as someone who is forgetting procedures, possibly due to anxiety. I tend to keep an eye on someone wearing his mask on his forehead.

 

[1RUSTYRIG]

I always found this 'rule' ridiculous...I have never seen a 'distressed' diver with the mask on their forhead...I have, however, seen a distressed diver start doing a complete yard sale of their gear on the ocean floor

 

[TX101]

This guy seems to think it's okay.

 

[BigJetDriver]

This guy seems to think it's okay.

Of course it's okay to wear it backwards at this point. You can't see Mike's back-up reg hanging on the bungee below his chin very well in that picture, but it is there. As many have pointed out, there just is no room to put the mask there as well.

 

[GrierHPharmD]

To just chime in, many of the more tech-rigged divers use a long (5-7') primary hose, which is wrapped around the neck in addition to the bungie. Add a mask strap and you've suddenly got way too much stuff around your neck. I think that's the reason for the backwards mask thing on the surface.

That being said, Walter, BigSage and the rest make a great point about there being other, more obvious signs of distress than the mask placement on the forehead.

For what it's worth, my PADI OW and Rescue instructors both taught that neck or backwards-facing were both acceptable places for masks to reside when you take them off in the water.