Well
I just got myself a poseidon atmosphere full face mask as I have been diving in lets just say unsavoury conditions.

I have to say a completely different experience, Excellent although a lot heavier on air consumption
Has anyone else tried any full face masks?

I was in portroe yesterday and done a skill dive with it went to 30+metres, and then replaced the full face mask underwater with a reg and backup mask - no major problems except as soon as I removed the full face mask it obviously free flowed because of the lack of seals, this again used up a lot of air, other than that just cold as hood came off with the mask!

Tom

Very cool Tom

Do you still hold a mouthpiece in these things or just breath the air inside it ?

Can you talk and be understood even without coms setup ?

What's the field of view like ?

Why don't I stop asking questions ?

Cheers ?

Chris ?

Nothing in the mouth Chris

It has a pocket which extends from just under the chin to above the nose, this seals and it is presurized, when u inhale it decreases the pressure inside the pocket, which is the same as breathing from a reg, it gives u air, then when u exhale, the excess is vented out through the sides

Yep I was chatting and having a laugh (mayb thats why there was such an increase in air usage!)

Field of view above normal I would say - just a weird feeling all together will prob take a few dives to get used to it.

Tom

TSounds the biz !

Would you recommend it over traditional reg / mask ? - I'd say the ability to talk would be a huge help in emergencies and also help to avoid buddy problems generally - quite apart from the convenience of being able to chat.

What sort of range could you get and did the bubbles interfere much with the ability to being heard ?

More questions !

Chris

I cant answer the range part - especially as I was the one talking we allways sound perfect to ourselves and we allways make total sense in our own head. but Id need to ask the buddy for that one

I think in some cases safer but in others definitely more dangerous, for example
If you had a hose blow out or a first stage o-ring go and have to change over to redundant air or buddies alternate you have to remove full mask - then take reg than don a spare mask, This is def not an easy job for an inexperienced diver
Yesterday - I did the task no problem, my biggest fear was that I was doing it at 50 bar and I knew that as soon as I removed the mask it would free flow using up a lot of mt air - I would then have to go onto my octopus whilst unzipping my pocket to remove my spare mask and don it.
Kris my buddy had his spare reg ready just in case.
Because of the amount of air used during the change I came to the concolusion that I would allways bring a second air source with it prob a 4.5ltr ali.

I hope this answers the Q's

Tom

Thanks Tom,

Yep I could imagine trying to do that in the middle of the water column could result in your having an uncontrolled ascent/descent before you got everything under control