PADI Instructors

[matt_unique]

I'm with you Matt. I've always thought all this hullabullu about the mask-on-the-forehead to be a bit anal. If one is concerned about the emotional state of a diver wearing their mask on their forehead on surface, a simple "o.k." signal to them will tell you if there is indeed a problem. Personally, I like to wear my mask up there when on surface, for all the reasons you've mentioned; further, I'm a big boy now - I'll rig myself as I please & take full responsibility for my decisions. I believe that new divers must be informed of all the pros n' cons of various mask placements when it is not in use, but as adults, they have the right to wear it as they please.

D.S.D.

The bungied 2nd primary reg below my neck is another great point (as several have mentioned) for not pulling the mask down. To each his/her own.

--Matt

 

[Wijbrandus]

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.

Point of order. The long hose is not "wrapped around the neck".

I leave my mask on until I'm out of the water and seated on the boat. Then it goes into it's box once it's off. I'm a klutz, and have had more than one instance where I've fallen off the boat ladder or dropped something on my mask, so I keep it as safe as I can.

Around my neck is too awkward and uncomfortable. Up on my head, forehead or aft, it's just too unsecure. I like my mask too much to risk it's demise.

 

[Mrs.Prages]

I took OW from PADI in 2002 with a very good and concientious instructor, and I was told around the neck or turned backward. I don't like either way particularly well though so I mostly just take it off if I have to on the surface.

 

[Tom Smedley]

Because that person is the editor of the official magazine of that agency.

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.

 

[StSomewhere]

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.

I'm no instructor, but my OW instructor (PADI) charged students a six-pack for every time he caught someone wearing their masked pushed up on their forehead. No, really, not just a funny joke, you owed him a six-pack and he expected to be paid at the next class or checkout dive. This is not new, he has been doing this for years. His reasoning: A struggling diver on the surface often makes no sound. If you aren't thinking clearly enough to turn your mask around or wear it around your neck at the surface, you clearly were in trouble.

I always wear my mask turned around backwards.

In my OW class last summer, we were informed that since none of us was Lloyd Bridges, wearing one's mask on the forehead was a no-no. The fine for this infraction was to be a six-pack of the instructors' favorite adult beverage!

 

[do it easy]

This guy seems to think it's okay.

That's just a double eye patch for when he does black out drills...

I have a bungeed backup, so wearing the mask around the neck is uncomfortable. I generally wear my mask from when I enter the water until I exit. While I'm not wearing it, it's in my hand or fin pocket.

I've seen plenty of divers with the backwards mask, and I've seen enough divers with the mask on the forehead that I don't instinctively try to rescue them.

I've also seen instructors emphasize not putting the mask on the forehead during classes. My guess is that it engenders equipment and buddy awareness for students. Or it lets instructors know who was paying attention.

I'm not too concerned how you wear your mask as long as you wear it continously during the dive and you still have it at the end of the dive.

 

[knotical]

Do whatever you prefer.

Some of the snorkelers at this famous agency's website like theirs on their foreheads.
http://www.padi.com/english/default.asp?o=am

I've been known to keep my mask in place throughout a surface interval. It helps to hide the ugly.

 

[WVDiver]

Wow, I never expected so much interest in this subject when I posted.

Seems a lot of people like wearing their mask backwards on their head and there are also a lot of you who don't really subscribe to the distress thing and I must say I agree. Actually if you are not worried about the distress thing and the waters are calm why go to the trouble of spinning the mask around at all? Just leave it on your forehead.

Whatever, to each his own I say. It just seemed so obvious and out of place when I saw all those people at the same time with their masks turn around that I just had to find out if this was something new that the agencies were teaching. Apparently it is not.

 

[RIDIVER501]

After reading your post I went back through my instructor manual, my course director manual (both digital so I just did quick phrase searches) and all the training up dates looking for the mask on backwards thing. I couldn't find it anywhere. I think he was BSing you. Even if that were a new practice that had been blessed from on high I wouldn't even mention it teaching. Still seems to be a good way to lose a mask. I recommend keeping the mask on your face, if you just have to take it off around the neck. if you don't like the mask around your neck don't take it off.

 

[scuba.ie]

Hi there,
I'm a PADI Instructor myself, and I think I can say without a doubt that this is NOT a PADI Standard. It does say in the Rescue course (and possibly the OW and DM courses) that you should never wear the mask on your head (it doesn't specify which way round either). I have seen PADI Tec Rec manuals that have photos of Technical divers wearing their mask on their head the wrong way round, so this kind of flys in the face of the Recreational diving standards, but I teach people NOT to wear the mask on their heads.

Maybe this particular Instructor was trying to get his students to look different or cool, or maybe he has shares in a mask manufacturer....

Take it easy,

Eoin.

PADI Staff Instructor #621306