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I used to hate those full face masks until last week in Corpus Christi | Commercial Divers - Vivisector

I used to hate those full face masks until last week in Corpus Christi

I always said full face masks were for guys who couldn't handle a regular regulator. Last week I had to do a hull inspection in some nasty murky water near the Corpus Christi ship channel. Visibility was maybe 2 feet and I kept getting water in my mouthpiece from the current. My buddy let me borrow his Kirby Morgan for one dive and I actually finished the job without cussing once. Now I'm looking at prices online but man they are expensive. Anyone else change their mind about a piece of gear after trying it once?

3 comments

3 Comments

nina_taylor2mo ago

Hold on a second. You went from hating something to wanting to drop a grand on it after one dive? I don't know, seems like a pretty big swing. Maybe it was just a better fitting mask than your old one, not some miracle face bucket. I've borrowed fancy gear before and had it feel amazing, but that feeling usually wears off once I realize I can't blame the equipment for my own clumsiness anymore.

emma_garcia1mo ago

You've tried a few different masks before settling on your current one, right? I've been through that cycle myself - thinking a piece of gear would solve everything, then realizing it was just a better fit for my face. The silicone skirt on a $1,000 mask might be softer, but if the shape doesn't match your face, all that money means nothing. Before you buy, try renting one for a weekend trip and see if the magic holds up after a few dives in different conditions. I've seen people spend big on a mask only to find it leaks every time they smile underwater. And honestly, a good $150 mask with a proper fit will serve you better than any high-end model that doesn't match your face.

henry_ross2mo ago

$1,000 on a mask? Wait, you're saying a single dive made you drop a grand on something you actively hated before? I choked on my coffee reading that, seriously. I get that fit matters, but a thousand bucks is more than my first car cost (and it was a pretty decent beater). Maybe that mask had some kind of anti-fog wizardry or a comfy skirt, but I'd be worried I'd just been tricked by the price tag making me feel like I was diving in a spaceship. Plus, I'd be terrified to scratch it on my first trip out, you know?