Why is MOF such a big hang up

[Ken abucs]

I snorkled for way too long before I took up scuba. In that time I developed the habit of putting my mask on my forehead. In addition I have an 18" neck, so the mask isn't very comfortable around my neck. So like it or not, you are likely to find my mask on my forehead from time to time.

Many of the people I have met diving have somewhat of a non-conformist leaning. So why do folks get so hung up on where someone wears their mask.

So this leads up to the real question which is in my signature.

 

[Zeeman]

Yup, as a die hard MOF'er, I would dive with you.

Supposedly, it's the "international sign of distress". If I were in distress, it wouldn't be the mask on my forehead that let you know about it...

Z..

 

[Wijbrandus]

It's been a slow few weeks. We need something to argue over.

 

[dive_lover88]

I would dive with anybody...yes even with the MOFers I have no discrimations against this...unless you are a danger in the water to anybody and yourself...so you have my answer
D

 

[Guba]

Oh, it's not such a big deal, Ken. I don't know anyone who goes into orbit when they see someone with their MOF. However, it's a matter of communication. In an open water situation, a diver with MOF is signaling (inadvertently or not) that he would like a hand. It will likely cause a few questions such as "can I help you?" and such. No one is going to swim up behind you, grab your tank yoke and drop your weights, but they might inquire.
One suggestion you might consider, since wearing the mask "necklace style" is uncomfortable: You might consider quickly taking off the mask and reversing it--lens on the back of your head and the strap across your forehead. It's still out of the way and I've never seen anyone raise a single question about whether the diver was in trouble or not.
Have fun diving!

 

[BarryNL]

As anyone who actually paid attention on the rescue course should have noticed, MOF is not a signal asking for help - it's a possible symptom of a diver in distress - and panicing distress at that. They will also be splashing around trying to climb out of the water and possibly bobbing under the surface.

A diver calmly floating on the surface with the mask on their forehead is not showing symptoms of distress.

I think it's just something that upsets those who didn't really understand their rescue course...

 

[ProfessorAronnax]

Yup, as a die hard MOF'er, I would dive with you.

Supposedly, it's the "international sign of distress". If I were in distress, it wouldn't be the mask on my forehead that let you know about it...

Z..

I've actually discovered that screaming, flailing my arms, and jumping up in down is actually a more effective way of showing distress than placing mask on head. Understand this was a non scientific study so I may be wrong

 

[Marlinspike]

Why dont you just turn the mask around and still wear it on your forehead? That way its still on your head and you aren't giving a now outdated and irrelevant distress signal.

~Marlinspike

 

[cecilb63]

The issue for me with mask on forehead:

Sometimes I forget it's there and when I pull my hood off off flies the mask, once over the side of the boat.

So now it's around neck for me...

 

[www.scubamazing.com]

When I was doing my open water my instructor got worked up about it. That's only time I've really seen people care.

I just get paranoid that soemthing could knock my $75 mask off my forehead, so I don't usually do it. I agree, I think there are more effective ways to show someone I'm stressed.