requesting opinions on my fins and mask

[mer]

A mask is good if:
- silicone skirt, not the cheap stuff
- the frame and skirt fit your face (should rest along the contour of your face when looking up at the sky and placing mask on face without inhaling)
- decent field of vision
- can reach the nose pocket, preferrably using only 1 hand
- secure strap connection to mask frame (ones that will rotate and disconnect, bad)
- avoid the honking high-volume masks if possible, easier to clear the old- fashion way if needed

I prefer to not use a purge, but it's not to say that you can't just make sure:
- keep your mask away from sand, it likes to get suck in the purge and make them leak
- make sure you are proficient in clearing the old-fashion way, and practice this from time to time

 

[crpntr133]

aznImpulse,
I think your fins are a pretty good choice.
I have seen some issues with the mask, however.
On some peoples faces the purge valve becomes, for the most part, useless because of the way the mask is designed. There are a couple of "ribs", for lack of a better term, that come up beside the nose on each side. The two masks I've seen divers have trouble with trapped water in the lens compartments and prevented the purge valve from working as intended.
I'm in Larry's school when it comes to purge valves in masks. I just don't think they're practical.

the K

Glad that you pointed this out Kraken. I to have had troubles with clearing this mask through the purge because of the design. My instructor kept telling me that I had it too tight but I never could get it loose enough to cure this problem.
Since I moved to my Cressi Matrix I don't have that problem.

 

[The Kraken]

Saw that happen in two back-to-back OW classes. Both students returned to the LDS and exchanged masks - no more problems.