pulling your hood !!

[Keith Whittaker]

On a different diving forum that i occasionally visit the question has come up about wether it is better to wear your mask over or under your hood. At least one poster has vehemently come out in favour of 'under' on the grounds that you cannot lose it from there. What does the YD massive think ?

On a related question. Most techie courses that i read about tend to have certain sections where the instructor will rip the mask from the student and expect them to get on with it. What would they do if the student was wearing the mask under the hood ?

[dorset_diver]

I know people that wear it under their hood, and it makes sense, so thoguht id try it out. Only problem i found is air getting in and under my hood and ballooing up and making it uncomfetable, where as when the mask strap was on the outside the strap prevented this!


Chris Middleton
aka student guy

[Finless]

Outside the hood for me ........ all six straps. Not to mention having the mask skirt over the hood .........

[Garf]

I'm not aware of any agencies that let people rip masks off their hoods. In TDI you are asked politely for it. In GUE the implant sends a shock to your forehead that displaces the mask. In PADI they send you a letter asking if you'd like to renew your annual mask storage subsidy before asking you to post the mask to them. In BSAC they hand you an electric razor on the assumption that somewhere underneath all that, there is a mask.

However, in seriousness, I can't remember anyone actually ripping a mask off my face, or have ever seen in done on a course. the most disturbing was I've seen it done was Andy Kerslake who would literally put a finger on your mask and tap it from above whilst hovering above you, and you had no idea how he managed to get there as he was somewhere else when you looked a second ago. very bizarre.

[Mal Bridgeman]

Originally Posted by Keith Whittaker

On a related question. Most techie courses that i read about tend to have certain sections where the instructor will rip the mask from the student and expect them to get on with it.

Are there any that actually do this or is it all machismo in the story telling?.

On the courses I've done three methods have been employed and briefed in advance. One is that the instructor places his hand in front of your mask then a second or so later gently lifts the mask off, two was to place his hands in front of the mask requiring you to shut your eyes, third was to ask you to take your mask off yourself.

Mal

[B]

I would say definitely over the hood, for many reasons all of which have been said above... but certainly unless your hood is extremely well fitting it will "balloon" and the mask stops that, also, how do you adjust it if it slips underwater?? Take off your hood?? I dont know about you lot but I'd rather not thank you...

lol

B x

[GLOC]

Originally Posted by Mal Bridgeman

Are there any that actually do this or is it all machismo in the story telling?.

On the courses I've done three methods have been employed and briefed in advance. One is that the instructor places his hand in front of your mask then a second or so later gently lifts the mask off, two was to place his hands in front of the mask requiring you to shut your eyes, third was to ask you to take your mask off yourself.

Mal

Ditto, never had my mask removed by the instructor. Had it asked for many times or should that be in 3-4 degrees water?

[peter lamb]

Originally Posted by dorset_diver

I know people that wear it under their hood, and it makes sense, so thoguht id try it out. Only problem i found is air getting in and under my hood and ballooing up and making it uncomfetable, where as when the mask strap was on the outside the strap prevented this!


Chris Middleton
aka student guy

I made a hole in the top of my hood to release the trapped air but made a mess of it so i have fitted a spare cuff dump in it that works ok.


Otherwise avoid breathing out of your nose.

When its cold i find my hood fits better less of a gap at the top so i dont get the cold shock as bad if the mask is under the hood.

[witchieblackcat]

My hood it too tight to get a mask under it.
I'm guessing but I thought that was the point.

[Steve S]

I wear mine over the hood and over the years I've had it kicked askew a few times requiring a refit but I've never actually lost it. As I instruct as well under the hood wouldn't work for me.

I imagine if you wear one of those novelty hoods it may be an option though.

Safe diving,
Steve