IST Pro Ear Scuba Dive Mask

[caverphill]

Hey guys & babes, I wanted to share something with you. I recently bought an "ear mask" (IST Pro Ear Scuba Dive Mask), and have been thouroughly impressed. My hair it a buzz cut, so this may have a bearing, on my experience with this.

I genuinely have been BLOWN AWAY by the comfort level, this has provided in my diving. I read alot of reviews online, and some have been bad. But...... I decided to go ahead and order one, to try it out. Part of the reason behind this, is that I have been plauged with outer ear infections, from the day I started diving.

The basic principal, is the mask has ear cups, with seals, around the ears, just like a standard mask. The equalization takes place via a tube, from the ear cup's, that connects to the mask...... The idea is.... dry ears, while diving.

THIS DID NOT WORK WELL............ INITIALLY!! I made a few modification's, and after the mod's, it has completely changed my diving experience. Modifications made, are as follows.....

1) I found the ear cup's difficult to clear, if they flooded, due to a 1 way valve that was installed from the factory, in the equalization tubes. They had too much resistance, it seemed. Luckily, the check valves were easy to remove, so I removed them....... problem solved.

2) The ear cups, (even though I have a military style, buzz cut) just seemed to leak, no matter what, mandating that I clear them every minute or so........... totally unacceptable. Also, this mask, at first glance, would appear to completely erase the idea of using a hood, due to the design. Well......... I personally, feel totally uncomfortable without a hood. What I did, to solve both of these issues, was cut holes, in my hood, to accomadate the "ear cups". I assume most of you are familiar with flipping your hood over the seal of your mask?..... Well I cut these holes just the right size, to accomadate the ear cups, but small enough, so that the edges of the hole, had to be flipped over the seal on the ear cups.... like a hood, over a mask... (I can send pic's if that is confusing.) After doing this, the ear cups do not leak at all, and, I am able to use my beloved hood.

3) The top's of the ear cup's, have an attachment point, for another strap to go over the top of your head........ adding this strap seemed to halp the stability, and "feel", of the ear cups.

4) The supplied mask, was very low quality, with poor field of view, etc. Luckily, the attachment for the equalization tubes, simply involes the skirt of the mask, having a hole, and a nut compresses the connection easily, and I was able to adapt the tubes, and ear cups, to fit my favorite mask.

I realize, that this took alot of modification, to be acceptable, but to sum this up, I am BLOWN AWAY, at how comfortable it is to dive with dry ears. I thought the main benifit of this was to reduce ear infections............ I must say now, that I have made several dives with this, the real benifit of this, has not been, as I anticipated, (managing ear infections, etc.) but the general comfort level of having dry ears (ear canal's, more specifically ) The next benifit, is the chill factor. My diving lately, when going somewhat deep, has been alot colder than normal..... after honing this mask, by making the listed modification's, into something I can use, I can hardly describe how much less cold it feels. To not have your ear canals flooded with 50 degree water during a dive, makes a huge difference.

As a former cave diver,I HIGHLY reccomend giving these a shot, and hey, if they flood, it's not like your not already used to it anyway right? Everyone take care! Wanted to share this find. P.S..... The all black silicone version does not seem nearly as gay.

- Phillip Pearl