aga full face mask

[trimix taz]

I am looking at buying an aga full face mask.
Other than having an alternate air source and spare mask witch I all ways dive with (twins 10s or 15s depending on the dive) and I am able to swap mask and dvs is there any thing else I need to know ?

[fatone]

Yep...............the servicing and spares costs, really costs.

[Brian of Aquanauts]

Originally Posted by trimix taz

I am looking at buying an aga full face mask.
Other than having an alternate air source and spare mask witch I all ways dive with (twins 10s or 15s depending on the dive) and I am able to swap mask and dvs is there any thing else I need to know ?

Have you dived with one before? As a positive pressure FFM i find they leak alot when in use. I get about half my normal dive time when using one on SCUBA.

[trimix taz]

i can get one serviced localy for about £60 ( 2nd stage + mask)
i have not dived with an aga one b4 but the one i am hopefully buying is not a pos pres one.what first stage would you recomend apex or posieden

[Ron Mahoney]

Two words really Taz - "Jaw & Fatigue"

I've not used an Aga for gas diving but when I have used one it has generally been when I've been in the water for a while and have had to put up with a real 'pain in the neck' - well actually the jaw! The only advantage I see to an Aga is for using comms. In the sport diving range I've also used the Scubapro and tried the Kirby.

As Brian stated, I don't think the Aga with its PP is really suited for recreational diving - be that shallow or deep. I know many of the divers in colder climates (Norway/Sweden) use the simple Cressi black silicone full face mask (about £50-70.00) and you use whatever 2nd stage your already using.

If you do want comms then I think you'd be better advised to have a look at the Poseidon Atmosphere - though its pretty expensive.

Hope this helps

[Dangerous Dan]

Originally Posted by Ron Mahoney

Two words really Taz - "Jaw & Fatigue"
I've not used an Aga for gas diving but when I have used one it has generally been when I've been in the water for a while and have had to put up with a real 'pain in the neck' - well actually the jaw! The only advantage I see to an Aga is for using comms. In the sport diving range I've also used the Scubapro and tried the Kirby.
As Brian stated, I don't think the Aga with its PP is really suited for recreational diving - be that shallow or deep. I know many of the divers in colder climates (Norway/Sweden) use the simple Cressi black silicone full face mask (about £50-70.00) and you use whatever 2nd stage your already using.
If you do want comms then I think you'd be better advised to have a look at the Poseidon Atmosphere - though its pretty expensive.
Hope this helps

I had a problem with jaw fatigue using an AGA. It had being leaking air, so i though it must be too loose so i tightened it up and this is what caused my problem. The Aga was too tight in the first place thats why it was leaking air and then i tightened it up even further resulting in jaw fatigue.

Im not sure how experienced you are using FFM's so i dont want to sound like im patronising you but i find the mask seals better and requires less tightening when i turn my hood inside out so that the seal is on the smooth material of the inside.

HTH

Dan

[Ron Mahoney]

Originally Posted by Dangerous Dan

I'm not sure how experienced you are using FFM's so i dont want to sound like im patronising you but i find the mask seals better and requires less tightening when i turn my hood inside out so that the seal is on the smooth material of the inside.
HTH
Dan

Dan (or Taz)

If your still using a FFM then I'd give Otter a call as they do a hood with a soft-seal specifically for the FFM. I've had one of these for years and as said it does form a very good seal without over tightening of the spider. I reckon my jaw fatigue is caused by the buoyancy of the mask constantly wanting to climb up your jaw. I also find when using an Aga I suffer from an almost constant running nose and having to "sniff" down the mucus - maybe a bit more information than you need there!!

Ron

[Brian of Aquanauts]

Best hoods i've found for AGAs are the scubapro everflex 5mm turned inside out. You get that shiney smooth seal all over it and a silver hi viz hood to boot

yes i do sell them... no they're not on my site, (i'm really starting to hate my static HTML site)

[Digger]

If you've not used one before I'd also borrow one and bail off it in cold water. The skill is fine in the pool and playing in the summer, but taking off a full face mask in less than 5 deg I can only lien to being twatted in the face with a brick. It also makes you want to breathe in bigtime, which isn't what you need when you just removed your mask.

All in all, I'd advise against, especially for gas diving when regular gas switches and the importance of a clean shutdown and reg swap can be inhibited by a bit of kit that I find most people don't really need. It's not a great idea for trimix diving IMO, it prevents a decent equipment setup and increases the level of risk significantly on things like gas switches on a switch block, for no major benefit.

For me, the only use is in polluted water, for cold water diving there are better options, for most any other diving a normal half mask is common for a reason - it's the tool for the job.

I'd take the AGA over most of the others I've played with, but then it's the only one I've spent any time using, and the first one I got my mitts on, so that's probably why.

Digs.

[ardhill]

You could always give Finless a shout, not that he like talking about his FFM or anything

You can do a search for him on the "Members List"
.