To start, I personally loved everything about this summer trip. At first, I was extremely nervous leaving home as I have never been away from my family for an extended period of time, but now I am extremely grateful I did. During this trip, I think everyone has been nothing short of exhausted, but at the same time excited for each day.
Paige and her dive buddy Addison using full face masks for the first time.
My most memorable experience on this trip was the full face masks. I am honestly still scared of removing the mask underwater and clearing it because of my four failed attempts, even only being at 11 feet in a swimming pool, but I did eventually do it.
The crime scene investigation divers at Florida State University Panama City (FSU-PC) taught me so much about not only these full face masks, but also about diving and even Panama City as a city.
Challenges of Full Face Masks
Scuba diving with full face masks was nothing short of amazing. As it is a new mask, it comes with lots of information and training that is needed to be done to ensure the safety of everyone.
Dr. Feulner of Florida State University Panama City teaches Paige to read the sonar display and use it to direct the diver to find a target underwater.
A full face mask is a piece of diving equipment that covers the entire face, integrating both a diving mask and a regulator into a single unit. This differs from a regular scuba mask, that only covers the eyes and nose, and the regulator is held in the mouth.
In my opinion, full face masks are not easier to use. The straps have to be put perfectly into place to fit your face, but they help make diving easier as a whole, as a full face mask doesn’t fog because air is constantly flowing through it, not just in and out of the mouth.
Parts of learning to use the full face mask include learning what to do if water leaks into it and how to empty it and learning how to use all the buttons including the purge, as it is different from a regular regulator.
Another safety skill includes removing the full face mask, putting on a normal snorkel mask and regulator from a buddy, then putting the full face mask back on, all under the water. It seems like a lot, but it is a lot to learn. Paying attention to detail and instructions during these lessons are crucial to the activities done.
Sonar and Comms at City Marina
Paige uses the headset to relay instructions to two divers underwater.
After the pool training day, FSU-PC took us to a dock by the City Marina and taught us about underwater navigation and communications in the full face mask. I am still, even after a day, so amazed by all the work they do with the full face masks, and how sonars are used to navigate things underwater. I feel very lucky to have had the opportunity to work with and gain so much knowledge from amazing leaders.
My favorite part was the comms. Talking underwater is so unbelievable to me, and definitely something I would like to become more experienced with in the future. Crime scene investigation divers sacrifice a lot to go deep into the ocean, not just for themselves, but for someone else. These divers are nothing short of selfless, and should be recognized for the work they do.
Leaving Panama City was sad and bittersweet, but coming back to learn more about crime scene investigation diving is something I look forward to doing in the future.
— Paige H., Naut-in-Training, Sarasota Chapter
