I got a question from one of my students not too long ago. it has been mulling in the back of my head for a while.
– I’ve heard I am supposed to have a backup mask, is this true?
YES.
Alright , cool he says – followed by – Which mask is the best backup mask I have?
Okay,
No, there is no such thing as a backup mask. Yes , you need and should have a backup mask but there are no such thins a backup mask. Try to keep up, i know it sounds confusing – i’ll try to explain.
A mask should always be choosen for the fact that it fits you – fits your face – you do not choose the mask for it’s fancy colors or shape. Keep in mind these are my thoughts on the matter and I love the cool mask as much as the next nerdy diver but it does in the end come down to you beeing underwater in various situations needing your mask to not leak and not squeeze in the wrong places. you dont want to exit the dive with a headache because your very popular most sold silver and black low profile mask constantly pushed at your forehead the whole dive. That is just ridiculous.
If you are lucky and the fancy mask fits your face like a glove – go for it!
Also, do not have a primary mask and a backup mask. No, that is no good. Here is how you do; Keep three masks in your pocession and use them all. Switch them out now and them – on the regular. use one as a primary for a few dives then switch primary. the number of dives inbetween switches depends on how many dives you do per week, per motnh, per year.
Make sure you rotate your masks. So that all three of your masks are your primary, your backup and your reserve.
this will make sure that when you need to use a backup mask you are familiar with it and will not have any issues with it.
Next up. YES, i belive you should have a bacup mask in your pocket. However it does not help having a backup mask in your pocket if you do not know how to switch from your primary to your backup in a situation when it is needed.
We do several workshops a year just practicing this – switching between masks. For a number of reasons you might need to switch masks and becuase the reasons vary you will need to do this switch often and in different inviroments.
Start by doing a mask switch on youre safety stop.
When we conduct our workshop we insert a lot of different scenarios that might happen as you are diving and we train to put on the backup mask without bolting to the surface or going straight down into the bottom. it is important to be able to make the switch while still neutrally bouyant and without loosing your sence of direction.
Alright, there you have my take on having a backup mask.
Happy Maskswitch & Safe Diving Everyone!
/ Chris
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