Full Face Snorkle Mask

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by Viking Sailor

This is not a new concept. I used one when I was a boy in the mid 50's. In fact Sandra Dee used a full face 2 snorkel mask in the 1959 film Gidget. I don't remember any special problems using it. Of course no beard then.

They are a gimmick and resurface every decade or so, for the majority they don't work as well as a separate mask and snorkel.
My Mother had a FFM (full face mask) diving twin hose Scuba back in the early 50's. I don't know why she did, just seen the pictures.
Some people scuba with a FFM as they can then have surface communication, via a microphone and speakers, TV show ice divers for instance.
Some rebreather divers will dive a FFM under the belief that if they take a CO2 hit and go unconscious there is no mouthpiece to fall out and drown them, that with a FFM that they will regain consciousness and survive.

[Time2Go]

Advanced Open Water PADI Certified for 40 Years
A gimmicky toy
Valve on top can stick
leading to a panic situation for the untrained
Cheers
Neil

[Delancey]

Originally Posted by Time2Go

Valve on top can stick
leading to a panic situation for the untrained

Which brand did you use that you had problems with the valve sticking?

[Time2Go]

Hi Delancy
In my 40 years of diving I have never used this type of
Mask/Snokel combo and never would for the same reason
we don't put check valves on bilge pumps.
Granted I have done way more actual Scuba diving then snorkeling around
but here is my thinking,
If your submerged any rely on the valve as apposed to breath control
and it is stuck open and you inhale
you will lose vision as well as get a mouth and snoot
full of water
I don't want any thing that if they failed
would restrict my ability to exhale and inhale. It's why we wear octopus rigs
with two regulators, Air and Spare.
I also like to be able to easily clear my mask and equalize ears.
So my disapproval of this type of device rests with its inherent poor
design. I doubt you will see this in any serious dive shop,
But I also run the dive tables for any dive deeper than
one atmosphere or two dives on the same day or if flying
within 24 hours of last surfacing.
Don't really trust dive computers so I reserve the right
to be wrong on these toys, but I really don't think so.
Cheers
Neil

[a64pilot]

Cut and pasted from my dive computers manual, a Shearwater Predator


This computer has bugs. Although we haven’t found them all yet, they are there. It is certain that there are things that this computer does that either we didn’t think about, or planned for it to do something different. Never risk your life on only one source of information. Use a second computer or tables. If you choose to make riskier dives, obtain the proper training and work up to them slowly to gain experience.
This computer will fail. It is not whether it will fail but when it will fail. Do not depend on it. Always have a plan on how to handle failures. Automatic systems are no substitute for knowledge and training.
No technology will keep you alive. Knowledge, skill, and practiced procedures are your best defense. (Except for not doing the dive, of course.)

[ReMetau]

Wife and I are divers, and we received these as a gift last year, and we have used them a few times in the Caribbean since.

I don't much care for them. I like to dive down 10-20 feet when snorkeling, and I didn't much care for the full mask compression. If you stay at the surface, then they work great. Just not my cup of tea.

[OS2Dude]

I love mine. Lots of clear viewing, my mouth doesn't hurt from biting the snorkel, easy to clear (No hard EXHALE to get the water out), and I have not had any fogging issues like I do with traditional models. You can't SCUBA with it, but for casual snorkeling I really like it.

The FACE product only comes in two basic sizes, S/M and L/XL. It is meant for a typical face shape. My wife could not use the one we bought for her because it did not fit her face shape well. Mine fits great.

[YachtBroker]

Got one. Great for snorkeling and that's it. Didn't seal as well as I hoped but not spent enough time with it.