Lost my mask at 60 feet near the Port of Seattle last month

I was doing a hull inspection on a cargo ship when my neck strap snapped. The mask floated up about 10 feet before I grabbed it, but that 2 second panic taught me something. Now I clip a spare mask to my harness with a carabiner before every dive. Cost me $40 for the backup but beats aborting a job. Anyone else had gear fail at the wrong moment?

2 comments

2 Comments

jakep246d ago

I used to think carrying a spare mask was overkill. Always figured my gear was good enough and never had issues before. But last year I was changing a zinc anode on a mooring line when my fin strap broke. Lost the fin for a second and had to kick up with one leg. That little scare made me toss a spare fin and mask in my kit bag. Now I check every strap before I splash and it takes me maybe 30 seconds. Saves me from that panic you felt.

margaretk896d ago

Respectfully, I see it a bit different. Spare masks and fins add bulk and cost, and in my experience, most gear failures are way rarer than people make them out to be. A fin strap breaking is a hassle but not a life or death thing if you're a decent swimmer and keep your cool. I'd rather put that money and space toward a backup dive computer or a better knife honestly. Pregame checks are smart but I feel like the "just in case" stuff can get out of hand fast if you're not careful.