What do you call this gear?

[tracydr]

Anybody read the IPAD book, Descent Into Darkness? It's an awesome book about Navy salvage divers at Pearl Harbor. True story, written by one of the divers.

 

[ajduplessis]

Looking at pic the only thing that goes through my head is "desperate"

 

[Akimbo]

I know this is an old thread but I thought it was a good place for this old Navy training film I just found. It explains how Deep Sea Gear works:

The World of the Sea Deep Diving (1943)
https://archive.org/details/TheWorldOfTheSeaDeepDiving

 

[rx7diver]

Interesting: "Must ascend no faster than 25 fpm."

 

[Akimbo]

That was the Navy ascent rate in 1943. It went to 60'/minute in the 1950s. Of course it is 30'/minute now.

 

[shoredivr]

What does "band" in band mask refer to?

 

[Akimbo]

What does "band" in band mask refer to?

The hood and face seal is held onto the fiberglass frame with a metal band, which incorporates pins that the rubber spider attaches to.

BandMask 18 | Kirby Morgan

 

[shoredivr]

The hood and face seal is held onto the frame with a metal band, which incorporates pins that the rubber spider attaches to.

BandMask 18 | Kirby Morgan

View attachment 204031

Do you equalize this by pushing the lever above the regulator which moves a nose block against your nostrils?

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Just curious. What phrase do recreational Scuba divers use to describe divers like this?

View attachment 134807

... underwater construction workers ... this has nothing to do with SCUBA or recreational diving ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[Akimbo]

Do you equalize this by pushing the lever above the regulator which moves a nose block against your nostrils?

Yes except it is a push rod rather than a lever. Most divers also have to push the mask up a bit to block nostrils. The face seal is very wide and soft so it can move a lot more than other FFMs without leaking.

... underwater construction workers ... this has nothing to do with SCUBA or recreational diving ...

Nothing? Somebody should explain that to these guys:

NEDEG - North East Diving Equipment Group Homepage