From: rbeck@mordor.dseg.ti.com (Ron Beck)
Subject: Re: mask strap
Reply-To: rbeck@mordor.dseg.ti.com
Organization: When I get time...
Date: Wed, 9 Sep 92 14:24:11 GMT

In article <1992Sep5.004651.22879@hplabsz.hpl.hp.com>, howeird@hplabsz.hpl.hp.com writes:
|> If this person has a good fit with his mask, it should stay squished
|> against his face regardless of the straps. That's how you fit a mask,
|> right?
|> 
|> So give him a break.
|> 
|> The only reason you need the strap is if your mask isn't fitted correctly,
|> or you don't want to hold it in your hand or put it in your BC pocket when
|> you take it off. The strap helps a little if you're kicked in the face byt
|> eh fins of the person you're following on a dive tour, but not much. I've
|> had my mask kicked clear off even with a strap. It's probably easier to
|> slap it on your face again if you don't have to mess with the strap.
|>

Well, yes & no.  A mask should fit against the face in a comfortable manner
and stay in place with a slight inhale.  However, while diving, the act of
equalizing the mask (exhaling through the nose) to alleviate mask squeeze may
cause the mask to float off your face.  A strap helps keep the mask in place. 
The strap should *NOT* be used to keep the mask tightly against the face.  If
this is the function your strap is performing I would recommend a new mask.

From my personal experiences, I was swimming along one afternoon and,
unbeknownst (sp?) to me my mask strap had slipped off my head.  My forward
motion was enough to hold the mask securely in place.  However, when we
stopped to look at something, my mask continued its forward motion.
 
|> As for the snorkel, same thing. If he can devise a clip mount which lets
|> him snap the snorkel against his mask when he needs it at the surface, why
|> should he have to put up with it waving in his face while it's hanging
|> there useless on the dive?

I cringe whenever I hear someone recommend this for a number of reasons. 1)
I've found that it's hard to hang on to anything that's not secured to you in
some manner during your dive.  I'm not saying it's impossible, after all, some
people dive with their car keys in their pocket but I don't recommend taking a
chance with any unsecured gear.  2) In case of an emergency, having the
snorkel on the mask & close to my mouth may avert some panic.

I won't say you *CAN'T* do this and, in fact, some people I know don't take
snorkels at all because they're always in the way but I'd leave it on my mask.
It's irritating but it may someday keep you out of a problem situation.

This is IMHO after several years of AI training & basic classes so take the
recommendations as offered 8-)

|> 
|> -Howard
|> 
|> ...........................................................................
|> . Howard Stateman            | Reincarnation: Life sucks, then you die.   . 
|> . howeird@hpl.HP.COM         |                ...then life sucks again    .
|> . [Not an HP spokesman]      |  Anatomically Correct BBS (415) 8-jovial   .
|> ........................................................................... 

Ron
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Ronald J. Beck           | IP rbeck@mordor.dseg.ti.com |Do now what others
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Texas Instruments        |                             |later what others
McKinney, Texas          |                             |can't
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