low volume mask? easy to clear?

Does anyone have any idea which is the lowest volume mask avaliable? (on the
basis that the lower the volume the easier it is to clear)

I know that it also depend on fit, but if I can get some idea of what some
of the lowest volume masks are, the it at least gives me a starting point to
try them out.

John wrote:
> Does anyone have any idea which is the lowest volume mask avaliable?
> (on the basis that the lower the volume the easier it is to clear)
>
> I know that it also depend on fit, but if I can get some idea of what
> some of the lowest volume masks are, the it at least gives me a
> starting point to try them out.

NO. A low volume mask is often a more complex fit so it can
be harder to clear. My 'Big-Eyes' is low (ish) volume but it's
a total bitch to clear as it doesn't flex over the cheeks.
You have to tip any water to one side and blow it out there.
Easy enough once you know what's going on but gets you some
strange looks when you're running in a new buddy.

The easiest mask to clear is one that is a good fit, blows out
right at the bottom when you do the hold-the-top-and-blow drill
and is not too tight. Your lungs are about five times the mask
volume so if you do it gently it all goes in one snort. With a
mask fit is everything.

nigelH

Nigel Hewitt wrote:
> NO. A low volume mask is often a more complex fit so it can be harder to
> clear...

*nod*

> My 'Big-Eyes' is low (ish) volume but it's a total bitch to clear as it
> doesn't flex over the cheeks.

They also leak like a bastard if you have the wrong face shape, none the
less you'll see alot of them on UKRS trips as they're very, very, good at
what they do, which is give you extra vision. Many of us just put up with
a little bit of mask leak for this added benefit...

Al.

"Alasdair Allan" <aa@ukrecscuba.org.uk> wrote in message
news:bkuim7$65jvb$1@ID-188041.news.uni-berlin.de...
> They also leak like a bastard if you have the wrong face shape, none the
> less you'll see alot of them on UKRS trips as they're very, very, good at
> what they do, which is give you extra vision. Many of us just put up with
> a little bit of mask leak for this added benefit...
>

I agree wholeheartedly. I have a Cressi Minima which I use for Scuba as well
as Freediving.

Mark.

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------------
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"Alasdair Allan" <aa@ukrecscuba.org.uk> wrote in message
news:bkuim7$65jvb$1@ID-188041.news.uni-berlin.de...
> Nigel Hewitt wrote:
> > NO. A low volume mask is often a more complex fit so it can be harder to
> > clear...
>
> *nod*
>
> > My 'Big-Eyes' is low (ish) volume but it's a total bitch to clear as it
> > doesn't flex over the cheeks.
>
> They also leak like a bastard if you have the wrong face shape, none the
> less you'll see alot of them on UKRS trips as they're very, very, good at
> what they do, which is give you extra vision. Many of us just put up with
> a little bit of mask leak for this added benefit...

It's not a little mask leak for me. It's a big one. The Big Eyes is the
mask that tought me to take a mouthpiece with me when shopping for a mask.
Beleive it or don't, the Big Eyes fits me fine until I put my regulator in
my mouth. That little bit of distortion is enough to make it leak like a
sieve . . . so I gave it away.

Mares makes a somewhat different mask to do the same job. It's got
unusually shaped lenses, seems to give similar field of view and seems to
fit better. I'll let you know about that when I get a chance to try it out.

Lee

Alasdair Allan <aa@ukrecscuba.org.uk> wrote:
> Nigel Hewitt wrote:
>> NO. A low volume mask is often a more complex fit so it can be harder to
>> clear...

> *nod*

Completely agree.

>> My 'Big-Eyes' is low (ish) volume but it's a total bitch to clear as it
>> doesn't flex over the cheeks.

> They also leak like a bastard if you have the wrong face shape, none the
> less you'll see alot of them on UKRS trips as they're very, very, good at
> what they do, which is give you extra vision. Many of us just put up with
> a little bit of mask leak for this added benefit...

As long as you don't smile they're fine

Seriously though, they do take some getting used to and you have to have the
strap tension just right of they leak if the mask is too tight or too loose.
Clearing can also be a bit of a challenge as they can require a couple of
breaths to clear them or a bit of underwater gymnastics. However, for all
their problems they are a superb mask when it comes to vision.

PADI "Wearing a Big-Eyes mask successfully" speciality anyone?

Nick

> PADI "Wearing a Big-Eyes mask successfully" speciality anyone?
>
or how about a "How to start and finish your dive wearing your new Big
Eyes mask"?

Nick Bown wrote:
> PADI "Wearing a Big-Eyes mask successfully" speciality anyone?

Naah. Even Frank would be pushed to make a card out of that.
Perhaps, on the basis of Al's mask spotting count, he should
add it to the UKRS speciality.

"You" "Watch" "Me"

Instructor part floods his mask.
Pauses and points to the water level so the student can see.
Places fingers on the top of the mask and thumb on side.
Tips head 90 degrees to thumb is at the top.
Clears mask.
Rights head and shows student clear mask.

Student copies.

Instructor signals OK.
Both Smile.
Both clear masks again.

Back to John's problem. If clearing is a dificulty nine times
out of ten, provided the mask is a reasonable fit, it's too tight
and air is leaking somewhere other than the bottom so the water
isn't getting pushed out cleanly.

nigelH

> > I know that it also depend on fit,
>
> It *all* depends on fit. Buy a mask on fit first.
>

It's true!

The best thing to do is follow these simple steps...

1. Do not buy a mask!
2. Buy a ticket for the dive show in Birmingham in November instead.
3. Go to Dive Show with a bit of paper and try on every mask there - yes,
I'm perfectly serious.
4. Note down the ones that fit properly[1] and which stand they are on.
5. Return to those masks and then make your decision based on any other
factors you feel are important.
6. When you have made your choice, try on lots of examples of that model[2].

[1] - Testing the fit of a mask.

- turn strap inside out so that it hangs in front of the lens.
- put mask to face, don't push it on or tilt your head back, just hold it in
contact with your skin
- breathe in _very_ gently through your nose
- do the same with a mouthpiece (great idea, Lee!)

A perfectly fitting mask will
a) stick instantly to your face
b) remain stuck to your face for a length of time when you hold your breath

You will either be very lucky and have a face the same shape as the dummy
that mask skirts are made from and have a big long list to choose from or
you won't in which case you will have a choice of two or three.

My GF and I did this a couple of years ago, I am that lucky person, she is
the complete opposite and only found one mask that fitted - the Cressi
Big-Eyes. I went for the one giving the best field of view - the Cressi
Big-Eyes.


[2]What we also noticed was that there is a subtle variation in the skirts
of the same model of mask - try one plenty and get the best one.

HTH

CAS

PS. I will get this written up and on my site at some point...

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On Thu, 25 Sep 2003 12:06:41 +0000, Lee Bell wrote:

> Mares makes a somewhat different mask to do the same job. It's got
> unusually shaped lenses, seems to give similar field of view and seems
> to fit better. I'll let you know about that when I get a chance to try
> it out.

I tried a Mares Lirica when they first came out. Leaked a bit until I got
the strap tension right. Then the strap loosened after a bit of use and it
absolutely poured in. The second time this happened, I chucked it into the
corner of the spare room where it rests to this day.

I've currently got an Oceanic 4Site which is a good fit for my face. Only
time's it leaked is when a mozzie bit me on the face right where the seal
is.

Jason

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