Full Face Mask Course

Divers often have a need to communicate effectively underwater (or because they want to). The SNSI Full Face Mask Course is the perfect starting point. Completing the dive with a full face mask allows the diver to relax and enjoy the dive without worrying about biting the second stage of the regulator to keep it in the mouth. In addition, the full face mask helps to isolate the diver from a cold water environment and, if desired, can include a communication system for long, clear underwater conversations.

This course is for:

Certified divers who are looking for more information about the different full face masks available and how to determine the right one to meet their needs.

Course prerequisites:

Be an SNSI Open Water Scuba Diver, or equivalent. Minimum age 18 years old, or 15 years old with parental consent.

What you can expect to learn:

The SNSI Full Face Mask Diver course provides an in-depth look at all of the following areas and more:

• Purpose
• diver safety
• Communications
• Benefits
  • Increased diver safety
  • Communications
  • corrective lenses
• Disadvantages
  • Increased air consumption
  • Buoyancy
  • Volume
• types
  • appropriate / inappropriate
  • Quick Connect / Quick Disconnect
  • surface supply
• Techniques / procedures
  • wearing the mask
  • Diving with a full face mask
  • underwater communications
  • Types of communication equipment
  • Field maintenance and care
  • Authorized preventive maintenance service
  • after use

Some of the skills you will need to demonstrate include:

• dive planning
• Equipment configuration
• Proper mask placement and adjustment
• Changing from open to closed position on the surface
• Adequate ballast
• Establishment of buoyancy and demonstration of buoyancy control
• equalization techniques
• Cleaning a partially flooded mask
• Full face mask removal and replacement underwater
• Free flow in the MFC
• Successfully switch to a reserve mask
• Mask removal and use of alternate air source
• Ascent with alternate air source
• descents and exits
• dive log

What you can achieve:

After successfully completing this course, you will be able to conduct diving activities without direct supervision of the SNSI Instructor*, provided that the following limits are respected:

• Diving activities should resemble training.
• The activity areas should be similar to the training areas.
• The environmental conditions must be similar to those of training.

*Note: Junior divers (ages 10-14) must participate in advanced buoyancy activities with a parent, tutor or dive professional.

The SNSI Full Face Mask certification is considered a contributing specialization to the SNSI Advanced Diver Development program.