Full Face Mask

[perryL927]

Recently, I’ve been entertaining the thought of getting a full-face mask with integrated communication. My friend has been goading me to try it out. Can someone tell the pros and cons, other than cost, of this equipment?

[Genesis]

How do you donate gas and what do you do if your primary takes a crap?

[Tegg]

I would simply ask why you feel you need it?

Are you working on a project or something where that level of communication is needed?

If so, you could ask Wes Skiles being that he used them extensively lately for some of his shots.

[curtschu]

If the Primary craps out you need to take off the fullface switch to backup then don your spare mask. You will be brething the short hose so if you have to give gas you are handing off a reg that is Not Known to be working. You will need to stowe the long hose. If it is fouled somehow then what pass the fullface back and forth? Sometimes the KISS theory is still best. Pros/ It would be cool to be able to talk be isn't that park of the diving experience? The solitude.

[ARY]

Recently, I’ve been entertaining the thought of getting a full-face mask with integrated communication....

I was thinking of trying one cheap ffm too but for different purpose: to sleep nice and comfy while sniffing deco O2 in the Eye

[Dave Lizdas]

Ive never used one, but just for the sake of argument on a Friday, couldn't you modify a full face mask to accept an ordinary regulator mouthpiece? That would enable you to swap regulators and be able to donate the long hose. You carry a spare mask, of course

[Chunky]

I think Scubapro makes a FFM that allows for a normal reg to attach. But I think switching the reg out would be a bit much in a gas emergency. Switching to a back-up mask and reg would be a lot more efficient...

[MikeH]

Oceanic markets a mask made by Kirby Morgan(http://www.kirbymorgan.com/products/m48.html) called the M48(not sure what Oceanic calls it, but it's the same mask, made by KM) that allows you to swap regs without removing your mask. The portion that the reg attaches to is separate from the rest of the mask. It also accepts comms.

Mike

[Arnold Mesiser]

Oceanic markets a mask made by Kirby Morgan(http://www.kirbymorgan.com/products/m48.html) called the M48(not sure what Oceanic calls it, but it's the same mask, made by KM) that allows you to swap regs without removing your mask. The portion that the reg attaches to is separate from the rest of the mask. It also accepts comms.

Jochen Hassenmayer made a system of his own along the same vein when he Dove Fontiane de Valcluse.

I have some experience with the Scubapro FFM, as well as a communication system whose name temporarily eludes me (it's a Canadian company, and Scubapro sold it for two years), and I can mention a few points:

You can attach two second stages for your own redundancy, in addition to the comm system.

You can attach a traditional second stage on a 7-foot hose for your buddy.

The communication system sounds horrible (remember, "Houston, we have a problem"). The NASA system is MUCH clearer. You have to stop inhaling OR exhaling before your buddy starts talking, or you have zero chance of understanding him/her.

We used the system to do a radio live remote from the bottom of our pool. Because of the novelty of the situation, it was very successful, but other than that it was a pain.

My advice: use a conventional scuba system and learn ASL fingerspelling.

Russell