A different twist on the pipe mask

[m2b]

I've been reading through some of the mask posting this evening since I knew I needed to get rid of the goggles and go with a mask so I could actually be willing to expand my horizon some. Yeah, I've been down 18 feet with goggles and would do it again without thinking about it but I've been thinking of going further down, quite a bit further. I knew I needed a mask and thought I would look on the board and see what everyone was recommending. As a result I stumbled into the concept of pipe mask. I knew of fluid goggles but hadn't heard of the pipe mask until about an hour or so ago.

An idea has come to mind that would possibly improve on the concept of the pipe mask, MAYBE. Would it be to stick the hose that goes into the mouth into your nose. This way when you equalize your ears you are automatically equalizing the mask as well. I tried the idea with a straw sitting here in front of the computer and I could plug one end of the straw with the other end up my nose and I was still able to pop my ears. by just plugging my nose and blowing.

Does it take too much pressure to equalize your ears so that by trying to equalize your goggles at the same time you would pop the goggles off your face or cause the goggle to leak excessively?

Just a thought I would like to get some more experienced feedback on before I try my new crazy idea. I do like the pipe mask idea and do plan on giving it a shot.

Ryan

 

[sanso]

If the trick You describe works with a generic mask (the kind that covers the nose as well), then You're good to go. That straw creates a connection between goggle-space and nose, so in th is effect it isn't much different to a mask.
As generally with equalisation, Your mileage may vary, but if Your favoured method works for You, be happy and dive deep!

@General public: Did I miss something there?

 

[shoutatthesky]

The concept of a pipe mask is that you can equalise the mask whilst wearing a nose clip. You wear a nose clip to eliminate the need to reach up and pinch the nose closed to equalise. If you can equalise the mask using an exchange of air into the mask via the nose then the nose is not closed and hands free equalising is therefore not possible (excepting VTO) so I don't think what you are suggesting makes sense.
To equalise the mask only enough pressure is required to balance the pressure differential. Any more pressure and the air will escape under the seal of the mask. I doubt whether that pressure would be equal or greater than the pressure required to equalise the ears.

 

[m2b]

When I thought of the idea last night while reading up on pipe masks I tried the straw idea and it worked and I was still able to equalize the ears by plugging the straw shut. I didn't know though whether the pressure from trying to equalize the ears would be too much for the goggles or not.

I thought it would be nice to be able to do a two for one kinda deal. You would never have to think about carrying a small floatie with you as an air bladder and you would never have to think about equalizing the goggles if you was doing it automatically each time you equalized your ears.

Oh well, better luck with the next dumb idea.

Thanks,
Ryan