Full Face Mask/Com Devices

Hey guys-
My dive buddies and I are checking into buying full face masks with radio
devices so we can communicate with eachother while underwater. Does anyone
know about these things? How deep can we go with them? How do you use a
secondary air supply with the full face mask? What's the best kind to get
for quality? Any info you provide is VERY appreciated!
Thanks!
D

"D" <d@d.com> wrote in message news:ObIXc.173173$Oi.71258@fed1read04...
> Hey guys-
> My dive buddies and I are checking into buying full face masks with radio
> devices so we can communicate with eachother while underwater. Does anyone
> know about these things?

Are you sure you want to pay the price, and deal with the problems and
tradeoffs?

>How deep can we go with them?

As deep as you can go.

>How do you use a secondary air supply with the full face mask?

The easiest way is to carry a half mask in your pocket in case you need to
change to an alternate reg. This also works if you need to take a reg from
someone else or you need to share gas with another diver. Alternately, some
full faced masks can be fitted to take more than one regulator, but this
really only works for the solo diver.

>What's the best kind to get for quality?

I have only used a couple of them so I will leave this question for someone
else.

>Any info you provide is VERY appreciated!

There are problems with using full faced masks. As already alluded to, it
is a problem to share gas or to make a gas change. Once you put the mask
on, unless it has a snorkel attachment, you are using your diving gas. With
the mask in place it is difficult to communicate with other divers or boat
crew while on the surface. When diving in cold water many divers believe
that a FFM keeps them warmer. I wonder, though, if keeping cold water away
from your face might actually cause you to loose more body heat. Cold water
on the face is the trigger for the mammalian diving reflex which causes the
body to alter blood flow to conserve heat. Finally, many divers do not want
to listen to the idle chatter of others while in the underwater world.

Personally, The only time I use a FFM is when I am doing work underwater
that requires communication with my support vessel. Otherwise, it is just
not worth the trouble.

Hope this helps.
--
Safe diving,

Dale Bennett
Captain Dale's, Inc.
Enterprise Marine, Inc., Dive Charters

D wrote:
> Hey guys-
> My dive buddies and I are checking into buying full face masks with radio
> devices so we can communicate with eachother while underwater. Does anyone
> know about these things? How deep can we go with them? How do you use a
> secondary air supply with the full face mask? What's the best kind to get
> for quality? Any info you provide is VERY appreciated!
> Thanks!
> D
>
>

Try this link for more information.

http://www.oceantechnologysystems.com/

I cannot stress to you anuff, that whatever type you go with that you drill,
drill, drill allot and plan for a out of air emergencies.
I have seen first hand the problems with FFM and witness over zealous diver
almost commit suicide in a effort to just to say they dive FFM.
I have relied on FFM in commercial dives, and in a open water sport dive I
prefer not to use one.