Thought full-face masks were a gimmick until I borrowed one for a 45-foot sewer outfall job in San Diego

Worked a 12-hour shift in murky zero-vis water off Mission Bay last summer. My buddy handed me a Kirby Morgan 37 full-face and told me to try it for the deco hang. I realized after 4 hours I hadn't cleared my reg once and my jaw wasn't cramping. That alone sold me. Has anyone else had gear they swore was overhyped turn out to be a game changer?

3 comments

3 Comments

carter.gavin21d ago

Yeah same thing happened to me with a drysuit. Thought they were stupid until I actually tried one.

jessica_robinson2321d ago

I mean once I actually went through a full day with the right setup it clicked for me too. For me it was just about finding the right size and not being afraid to use it in rough conditions. Idk it's one of those things where you just have to trust the gear and it works.

reese12420d ago

My Kirby Morgan 37 is still sitting in my garage from a job back in 2017. I used it for a full week of deep reef work off Santa Barbara and it made a huge difference in terms of not having to clear water every few minutes. @carter.gavin I bet a drysuit feels similar once you get used to it, since it's all about the fit and trusting the seals. I still pull out my old mask for shallow stuff, but the full-face is the only way for long hangs.

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