A mask sitting comfortably on the forehead is not a sign of panic. Zilch. I only know what PADI teaches about this in its course materials, and it teaches that equipment rejection is one sign of panic. A panicked diver pushing the mask off the face will usually lose it completely, but sometimes it will stay on the head, quite askew. Does anyone think that a diver thrashing about in the water with the mask barely hanging on looks the same as someone chatting with a friend with the mask carefully placed on the forehead? Does anyone really think a DM is going to come leaping to the rescue in such a situation?
The risk of having it come off in a wave is more real. A diver in such seas should have the mask on the face where it will do some good.
The risk of having it come off in a wave is more real. A diver in such seas should have the mask on the face where it will do some good.