The ultimate low volume 'mask', Pipe goggles !

[Walrus]

Way ahead of you guys.
I thought of using a filled bag of air to equalise the goggles. Did it last week, and it worked. Whilst at Kmart I bought some kiddies floaties, the ones they put on their arms. Cost 50 cents. The air valve was right daimeter. Tried it, took it down to 41m, no problem! Started with about 150ml of air or so.

And no Eric I did not struggle to make this pipe mask, drill 3 holes, some glue, all done in like half hour. Why would I want to pay someone in the UK to do that for me ?
This cost me almost nothing. Hate to think what it would cost in pounds ??

And this is far superior to a pipe-mask, the volume doesn't even compare. It does take a bit of practise. For example when doing the mouthfill you need stick your tongue out to block the pipe. I used the goggles again today and dived 67m, they are great, really don't notice much air lost at all. You don't really need to blow to put air into them, just block & release with your tongue on the pipe.

When I get time will show some better pictures. Today been busy diving and helping out getting stuff ready for Annabel's records.

fpernett,
you do not drill into the lenses, just into the frame. Also need the right goggles, the ones I use have a soft silicon frame, They will only work with goggles that seal very well, most rely on suction, which will be lost once you atach the pipe.

Cheers,
Wal

[Walrus]

Took part of a picture and blew it up a little, best one I could find at the moment. Did take some pictures of just the goggles but don't have a digi camera and still have to pick up the photo's.

Basically I used a drill, put 3 holes in the frame of the goggles. Inserted the pipe, used superglue to hold it in, then silicon to seal it better. I used smaller bits of pipe to go into the goggles, to keep the holes small, then atached the larger sections to that.

The brand of the goggles is Aqua
Sphere, made in Italy. They have a soft rubber frame and are really good, also have mask style strap system. Great goggles if you want to use normally for pool training also so you might want to buy 2 pairs.


Hey maybe I should ask them for a commision right ?

Cheers,
Wal

[loopy]

Added bonus, they look great for the ladies...

[aydin]

Hello Walrus,
At what max depth did you reach with that equipment and excuse me I don't understand that the open hole of the pipe is in your mouth i think,am i right?

[fpernett]

Thanks for the info.
One question, Do you have any leakage while diving?
Specially when you blow the air?.

[ivan]

hi

Wal when you get back to Oz I would like to buy that mask from you, would you been keen to sell it or make one that I can buy from you

cheers

[loopy]

Andy if you organise it with Wal, I can bring you up a set... but I shotgun a pair too!

[ivan]

hi

You reading my mind their big fella Just what I was planning, hopefully Wal feels like selling me a pair

cheers

[loopy]

I dunno, judging by that photo he looks kinda attached to them...

[donmoore]

Great goggles and thread Wal and others. I have been thinking along similar lines. Last year I built a self-equalizing mask for my daughter’s science project. I used two fuel bulbs, like the one used in outboard motor fuel lines, for the balloons. They were too stiff and bulky. I got a little equalization, but it wasn’t practical.

I have been thinking of using goggles with softer balloons and/or pipe goggles since the experiment for the lower volume and the nose clip ability. Wal, one thing I was thinking of is using a one-way valve like the Pro-Ear masks use, in the pipe. That way you wouldn’t have to hold your tongue on the end of the pipe to keep the air pressure up. Simply blow in when you need too. I don’t know where you can buy it but I am sure it’s available with some looking.

Jussi, the flexible tubing is great idea too. I have been thinking of that as an alternative to balloons for the same reasons you stated.
don

[Pezman]

@Don

JimGlynn built a mask with a bite-valve which I think he said he got from a hydration setup that is used for biking. Basically an off-the shelf item that "liberates the tongue", so to speak.

[loopy]

I'm not sure if you guys get them over there, but here you can buy something called a 'camel back'... It's like a backpack with a bag in it full of water for you to drink. There's a tube coming out of it, and with the rubber endpiece, you have to squeeze it to let water out... something like that would work well. I'll look for a photo this afternoon and post it.

[Pezman]

Yup -- that's exactly what JimGlynn used.

[tanteh]

I recently build up a pipe-Mask, using an Aquasphere Seal Goggle. The major advantage for me is, that it does not require a connection between the two glasses.
The tube comes from a modular system for pressurized air, in Germany known as FESTO.

cheers, tanteh

[Walrus]

That's the mask that everybody has been using to build the pipemask for years. True that the goggles require extra holes drilled to do the connecting pipe, but the volume is much lower. I would guess maybe 1/2 to a 1/3 of the volume of the seal mask.

Cheers,
Wal