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From: Pete Keener <PSTONGE@Tr*.ca*>
> ....
> future - my curiosity was piqued by the mention of the full-face mask.
> Since most of the diving I do can be thought of as cold (usually below the
> t'cline), the idea of keeping my face dry (and hence warmer) is
> particularly attractive. Could anyone relate their experiences (pro and
> con) with these devices to me?
Quite a few divers use full-face masks here. Most of them have either
so called "bantu-mask" of Cressi or so called Aga-mask. Some other types
have been seen occasionally.
1. Cressi "bantu-mask": Black, cheap, rubber. Can be used with every
2nd stage. Mouthpiece of 2nd stage comes inside mask through a sleeve.
Thus diver holds mouthpiece in ordinary way. Dead volume is therefore
not increased by the mask. Window is glass.
2. Aga-mask: Gray or yellow, quite expensive. Aga does not have any more
anything to do with these, they are sold by a company called Inter-
spiro nowadays. Mask is usually used with Interspiro's mk II second
stage. Dead volume is little bigger than with mouthpiece reg. The old Aga
masks were 600 g positively buoyant. The new, mk II type is 270 g positi-
vely buoyant. Second stage is available in two versions. The other has
a positive safety pressure feature, the other doesn't. You can always
remove the safety pressure feature if you change two springs. Safety
pressure keeps 0,002 bar overpressure inside mask. There is a switch
which closes the 2nd stage so it will not free blow when you take off
the mask. Over pressure keeps the mask dry even if it would have holes.
Some divers complain that they have a tunnel vision with the mask. Some
don't like the plastic window (it produces more uncomfortable reflec-
tions than a glass window would). Otherwise everybody agree that the
mask is quite comfortable.
Underwater telephone set-ups are available for the Aga-mask.
2nd stage is quite freezeless. At least mine didn't freeze under the
ice a week ago.
The safety pressure feature makes Aga-mask ideal for in-water recomp-
ression treatment with pure O2, I suppose.
3. Exo-26 mask: Very expensive, especially with inbuild loudspeakers.
Very comfortable and neutral buoyant. However, according to the
rumours, freezes easily.
Telephones available.
4. Dr{ger mask: Black, very expensive like all the Dr{gers. The old Dr{ger
looked like a barrel and had _big_ dead volume. The new Dr{ger looks
better and has smaller dead volume but according to the rumours, it has
surprisingly high breathing resistance.
Telephones available.
A recent (latest ?) number of the Aquacorps had an article about full-face
masks, especially about AGA and Exo-26.
Full-face masks have one advantage which is seldom mentioned. In emergency
ascend, it is possible to breath air expanding in your drysuit. This
requires of course that you have dry hood and no neck-sealing or a loose
neck-sealing.
Jouni Polkko
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