On Tue, 26 Jan 1999 20:22:04 -0500, Jim Cobb wrote:

>It is interesting that you use a FFM, is the water particularly cold? Do 
>lots of divers over there use FFM's? I have not tried one, they don't 
>look very comfortable. Plus you can't change gas very easily.

I don't want to start the whole FFM thread again, but for the sake of
anyone new who reads this, cold water is the absolute worst possible
justification for the use of full face masks.  I dive exclusively in
cold water, and routinely see people gearing up for ice dives with
FFM's so they can keep their face warm.  These things freeflow with
unnerving frequency - especially in cold water, they present an extra
dead gas space and so contribute to increased CO2 loading, and if you
do need to bail out of one, that can be quite a shock if the water is
freezing.  As Jim pointed out, they interfere with gas
switches/sharing, and depending on the design of the mask, will
actually increase your gas consumption.  I occasionally use a ScubaPro
FFM for search and recovery work, if the water is contaminated or if I
need hardwire comms, and less frequently, for deco hangs if I am
worried about toxing, but I would rather use a normal mask and reg no
matter what the water temperature.  I have yet to see anyone lose their
upper lip to frostbite from diving.

-Sean
DIR(ODDIAA)


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