FFM

[thomo]

Been looking at the OTS Guardian FFM, anyone have experience or use one ?? Good for cold water diving ?? any thoughts or suggestions appreciated.

Thomo

[loanwolf]

It is a great FFM. FFM's are great but you need to be aware of some drawbacks when using a FFM. Clearing your ears can be tough at times, in some cases no matter how much you tweak the mechanism it may not work due to your facial structure. If you should happen to have a failure or run out of air in your primary tank you are screwed for buddie breathing unless you carry a spare mask or have a redundant air supply plumed into it though a gas block. They can have a tendency to fog up.

If you can work around those issues then they are great. the M-48 is a better option as it uses pods so you can pull a reg out of your mouth and put another in without removing the mask.




You are dry with the pod as shown in the pic, If you pull that you can breath off a regular 2nd stage just as you would without a FFM.

http://www.kmdsi.com/FullFaceMasks/M48.html

[CaptnJack]

You'll also need to cut your hood way back, to the point where it seals poorly as it will no longer wrap around your forehead etc. To get a good hood-mask connection without gaps and cold water leaks a dry hood is best.

FFMs are a very expensive pita.