Full face masks

[TUE]

Does anybody know what BSAC's official position is regrding club diving using full masks?

[Keith Lawrence(BSAC)]

Does anybody know what BSAC's official position is regrding club diving using full masks?

No problem at all that I am aware of. In fact we have an SDC (see link) to give divers experience of five different types of FFM.

Keith L

[Mike Rowley]

Forgive me for asking the obvious, but why would a DIR group be remotely interested in the BSAC position on the use of full face masks in club diving?

Mike
Does anybody know what BSAC's official position is regrding club diving using full masks?

[TUE]

Forgive me for asking the obvious, but why would a DIR group be remotely interested in the BSAC position on the use of full face masks in club diving?:=

I am also a member of a non DIR BSAC club which has a couple divers who now own full face masks. I wanted to check they were OK for using them.

[Mike Rowley]

Ok, thanks. Just curious really. I didn't even know there was a DIR group in the area.

I should imagine life must become a little complex having to re-adjust from one diving system and philosophy to a completely different one depending upon which group you dive with. Particularly as DIR have some areas within their discipline that are at odds with BSAC teaching.

As Keith said, there are no problems with the use of full face mask within BSAC and we do have a Skill Development Course to facilitate these skills. The one proviso on this is that currently BSAC does not recommend the use of a full face mask with a rebreather. I believe this is a similar stand point with the other training agencies.

Mike

:=Forgive me for asking the obvious, but why would a DIR group be remotely interested in the BSAC position on the use of full face masks in club diving?:=

I am also a member of a non DIR BSAC club which has a couple divers who now own full face masks. I wanted to check they were OK for using them.

[sophie rennie]

Hi there,
If you want to run a BSAC Full Face Mask course then I can put you in touch with those in our region who have the ticket to teach it.
Regards Sophie Rennie
South West Regional Coach

[TUE]

Ok, thanks. Just curious really. I didn't even know there was a DIR group in the area.

There is only three of us in the area that actually dive DIR and only two of us who run TUE :-)

I should imagine life must become a little complex having to re-adjust from one diving system and philosophy to a completely different one depending upon which group you dive with. Particularly as DIR have some areas within their discipline that are at odds with BSAC teaching.

I don't find it too hard. I still use exactly same kit and approach to my dives. I think as long as we do thorough buddy checks before each dive so my buddies understand exactly where things are placed on my kit and how it works it is not a problem.

Some people in the DIR circles may say I break rule #1 every time I dive with "strokes", but with only three DIR divers in the area actually going diving can prove difficult without breaking it. IMHO I preffer actually going diving rather than sitting at home criticising every other diver who doesn't believe in my way of diving and if that means diving with non DIR buddies so be it.

[Mike Rowley]

There is only three of us in the area that actually dive DIR and only two of us who run TUE :-)

Some people in the DIR circles may say I break rule #1 every time I dive with "strokes", but with only three DIR divers in the area actually going diving can prove difficult without breaking it. IMHO I preffer actually going diving rather than sitting at home criticising every other diver who doesn't believe in my way of diving and if that means diving with non DIR buddies so be it.

Commendably pragmatic. I'm not sure what the almighty guru GE would have to say though.

Might see you on the ogin sometime, I'm next door in Dartmouth. However, you would be in breach of far too many DIR rules to want to dive with me. Committed "stroke" I'm afraid.

Happy diving.

Mike