Wearing mask on the back of your head

[scrane]

I'm afraid that I'd forget it's there and end up asking everyone on the boat if they've seen my mask.

 

[RyanT]

Another wanker here. When I'm kitting up on the boat for a tech dive, I've got a zillion things that need to be put in place. By putting my mask on backwards, I know exactly where it is and it doesn't start to fog before the dive. @Caveeagle's comment was spot on.

 

[outofofficebrb]

It would take a LOT for a mask worn backwards to be knocked off a diver's head. Try it.

I don’t need to. My buddy lost his mask that way.

 

[Neilwood]

Yeah, I agree with caruso. Sometimes you just want to free up your hands and put your mask somewhere for a short time while you are gearing up, so it's not over your eyes but easily donnable. I don't do this when wearing a hood, since the strap goes under the hood. But it's a fine solution for when you are diving in warm water.

I personally put it on my forehead, since that makes it quicker to pull down over my eyes when it's time to get in the water. The reason that I put it there is that I'm not superstitious about finding the one person who will actually interpret this as a sign of distress, since that's an urban legend. Also, we are talking about doing this on the boat while getting ready to dive, not while in the water.

And I would be wary of boats that ban you for something like that.

Agreed (apart from the mask strap under the hood - which I don't do).

Mask goes on forehead when I surface or while I surface swim out. If someone chooses to interpret that as a "sign of distress" while I am chilling on the surface, walking or swimming out on my back then they have more serious issues than I do. If a skipper (or crew) suggest that the simple act of wearing a mask in a particular way indicates a sign of distress without any other issues (flapping hands, yelling etc) then I have serious concerns about their ability to do their job!

 

[RyanT]

@scrane, yeah, that sounds like something I would do. Fortunately, I can feel the strap on my forehead and it reminds me that it's there. Habit helps too.

 

[Neilwood]

I will wear my mask backwards and use this for my mask strap:

View attachment 516217

I am seriously considering making or buying something like that!

 

[outofofficebrb]

Everyone should just do what they like and are comfortable with. If it ensures their mask isn’t lost, broken, and functions properly, etc., then by all means.

 

[JohnnyC]

Better tell this guy he's a wanker and isn't allowed on your boat!

 

[Sam Miller III]

@caruso
"I picked up a tip this past week while diving in Florida. I noticed a diver walking around on the boat with his mask on backwards, and the lightbulb came on. I've been diving for almost 40 years and never even thought of it, it's so simple and solves an annoying issue.....'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
40 years ? 1979 ? 1980 ?
Your horizons have suddenly been expanded in the world of recreational diving...
After all those good and great years.....
Enjoy and practice your newly discovered Mask on the back of the head
SDM

 

[doctormike]

Agreed (apart from the mask strap under the hood - which I don't do).

Do it. Best advice I ever got from one of our most experienced captains. Prevents it from getting knocked or kicked off, at depth or on the surface.