The face mask is great in salt water and as a matter of fact in fresh water as well. Earlier I wrote that one of my most favorite things to do is to remove my mask at depth or while doing a DECO stop at 20 feet. This you should do just about every time you dive; you never know when someone will kick your mask off, or fail just like any other piece of equipment that you use. This was learned in open water class, and now I know why they teach it. It can and most likely happen to you, and when it comes your turn to loose the mask, you will be prepared for what happens next.  Remember, just “don't panic.” Stop, think, and then act.

It happened to me and I am here to tell you I did not like it. I think it all has to do with our mothers telling us to breathe through the nose. It’s hard not to breathe through the nose when your mask is off swimming away to a greater depth then you care to go. I just have a hard time getting this down. I do it but I don't like it.

First I will relate to you another diver with a scooter, who had two DECO tanks and was going really deep. It was a sunny day and on went the sun blocker. It mixed with the salt water and in the eyes it went. Ron removed his mask and cleaned his eyes, but could not see. His dive buddy also had two DECO tanks and a scooter. He had to dive for the both of them and do all the required stops. It’s always good to have a great dive buddy.  

I was diving at 130 feet and was on the way to the first DECO stop at 100 feet and my mask was loose. I told myself that I should fix that old mask and keep the water out. It had the type of stays that have to be pulled out and then back to tighten and then press the stay down to hold it in place. The stay broke and the mask came off. I caught the mask and replaced it over my face and had to hold it there with the other hand to continue the DECO stops at 70 and 20 feet where I stayed for 15 minutes. That isn’t a long time, but holding on and pressing the face mask against the face can cause you to use a new forced learned skill. I learned a valuable lesson on that dive; make sure your mask is secure the way it should be before you dive. Check it well. Also carry that extra mask that you have checked along with all the rest of the dive equipment.

I don’t think I will ever have to be told to check this item of equipment again. The loss of the mask has made a believer out of me. You can never check and recheck your equipment too much before every dive. 

As I was looking through some old dive magazines, I ran across a 1999 issue of Scuba Diving. There on the front page were the words, “How to survive mask loss.” I like to read the dive magazines and keep most of them. It’s always a good thing to revisit some of the information that you find there. Remember that one day you are going to loose your mask; it happens to all divers for one reason or another. The first rule is to not panic. Just stop your scooter and replace the lost mask with the extra one that you have in your pocket. And continue to enjoy the dive.

© 07-04-2005  G. McK.