Full-Face Mask and Rescue training

The Florida State University – Academic Diving program conducted a dual training exercise and certification course the weekend of 25 and 26 January 2003. The training included members of the Techniques in Underwater Archeology ANT-4131 course who were performing multiple rescue scenarios while adjacent training was being conducted in the program’s new recreational full-face mask diver certification course.

The training area for the weekend was Manatee Springs State Park in Chiefland, FL. The spring is one of our first magnitude springs and can pump as much as 117 million gallons of water per day. The area contains two separate areas suitable for diving, the first being the main spring flow into the river and the second an adjacent sink referred to as the catfish hotel for the multitude of local inhabitants. The spring is frequented during winter months by its namesake and for safety reasons is closed to all watercraft until March 31.

For the students and staff of the Academic Diving program the day began with an early drive from Tallahassee to Chiefland enabling the party to arrive at the park gates promptly at 9:00 a.m. as the park was opening. Recent policies enacted at the facility limit the number of divers to 35 at any one time allowing a more enjoyable experience for all.

The rescue class led by the University Dive Officer Dan Marelli Ph.D. began training with an in depth safety briefing and quickly moved on to equipment set up. The first event for the students would be conducted in the sink area of the park and included a variety of rescue drills focusing on swimming and snorkeling skills. Upon successful completion of the required tasks the class moved over to the spring outflow to negotiate SCUBA rescues while battling the current produced by the outflow. The students and staff performed all tasks quickly and efficiently and were able to enjoy a more leisurely dive around the sink after the completion of training for the day.

Concurrent to this training another class was beginning the day’s events working towards completion of full-face mask diving certification. The training and equipment allows the scientists to more efficiently transmit the sometimes-large volumes of information and measurements from the bottom to the surface support staff.

The Florida State University Academic Diving Program offers training in full-face mask diving utilizing the Interspiro MK-II Divator or AGA mask and the Kirby Morgan EXO-26 BR. Training is also offered in surface supplied diving techniques utilizing full-face mask, band mask, and hardhat equipment. The training techniques and safety measures used by the ADP in surface-supplied diving are compliant with the consensus standards set forth by the Association of Diving Contractors for commercial diving and OSHA and D.O.T. (Coast Guard) commercial diving regulations.

The initial training plan was put into effect as a means of improving the safety and efficiency of divers involved with various university projects. The concept has been taken further to include the training of various public-safety diving agencies in full-face mask and line tended diving as well as Coast Guard and OSHA regulations governing diving.

Scientific divers, public safety divers, and recreational divers are allowed to perform dives outside of the restrictions of Combined Federal Regulations 46 and 29. Commercial diving, on the other hand, falls under the scope of these two regulations. The difficult part, at times, is the wide variety of tasks that both scientific and public safety divers are called upon to accomplish. Identification of commercial tasks is not always obvious and often one portion of a project would be considered commercial while another would fall under the exemption.  By educating divers on the commercial diving regulations the FSU ADP hopes not only to help in identification of tasks requiring commercial techniques and training but also to transfer some of the safety techniques from the commercial arena to scientific and public safety diving.

In 1823 Charles and John Deane patented a basic design for a smoke apparatus for firemen. By 1828 the device evolved into Deane's patented diving dress, the unit consisted of a heavy suit to protect the diver from the cold, a helmet with viewing ports connected to the divers waist. The helmet had a connection for air to be pumped from the surface and the excess vented out the bottom of the hat. This posed a problem if the diver were to fall over the helmet could flood.

Augustus Siebe has been given credit for developing the first diving dress; this was actually a modification of the Deane apparatus. Siebe sealed the helmet at the collar using a waist length waterproof coat. He also added an exhaust valve to vent the excess air.

For over 170 years, techniques and safety procedures have been developed and modified to increase the safety of diving. Most of the lessons learned throughout this history have been incorporated into both 46 and 29 CFR. These regulations were put into effect in 1978 and have had little modification since, the U.S.  Coast Guard controls 46 CFR and is currently in the process of rewriting the legislation. One more recent reference available is the ADC consensus standards for commercial diving, a more recent publication offering an increased level of safety that exceeds all requirements of the both 29 and 46 CFR.

While diving under the science, public safety, or recreational diving exemption is not specifically regulated, familiarizing yourself with the policies and procedure contained within commercial standards can make use of this wealth of information and experience and help to promote a safer working environment for all. It would be negligent for any organization to ignore these standards and the safety guidelines they provide.

The Interspiro MK II Divator or AGA mask as it is more commonly referred to is the second generation of full-face mask from the AGA line. This version includes a lower volume face post than the previous version allowing less dead space in the mask as well as a decrease in the buoyant effect. The mask includes an integrated demand regulator that can supply the diver with air at a slight positive pressure to maintain the seal and avoid water entry. The regulator can also be ordered in a non-positive pressure configuration. The seal itself comes in either rubber or silicone and is held to the divers head through the use of a flexible elastic head harness. The mask can be outfitted with hard wire or through-water communications and can be dove with a surface supplied air source or attached directly to a SCUBA outfit. The U.S. Navy has authorized this unit for shallow water surface supplied diving to 60 fsw and you may hear it, in some circles, referred to as the MK-20.    

The Kirby Morgan EXO-26 BR is a balanced version of the EXO full-face mask. This unit can be used in either the surface supplied or SCUBA mode and by look and feel seems quite a bit sturdier than the AGA design. The regulator on the mask is of the demand type and offers the diver the ability to adjust the masks breathing resistance while worn. The operating range of the mask is an impressive 90 psi through 210 psi over ambient allowing a wide range of air supply options. The BR or balanced design allows the unit to be used surface supplied at depths of up to 190 fsw. This mask design has been adopted by the U.S. Army as their lightweight mask of choice.

Training for full-face masks involves removing or ditching the mask and switching to an alternate air source or back up regulator. At this time the dive would be aborted, but for training purposes the mask is replaced while on the bottom, a procedure referred to as donning the mask. This training is conducted using a one-to-one ratio allowing a buddy or in this case the instructor to respond immediately with an alternate air source if the diver has any difficulties.

The divers are also using a through-water communications system allowing them to remain in contact with all the other divers. This system has the capability of running on two separate frequencies allowing two teams to operate simultaneously. The units can also be transmitted to and received by a surface control unit allowing the diving supervisor more control over the dive team when divers are un-tethered.

Training began with a safety briefing and was closely followed by equipment inspection and set up. The procedures for the maintenance of the mask are a large portion of the training focus for the certification as the scientists are often working in remote locations were technical support is not readily available. The group assembled the diving equipment and made the 400-meter trek to the spring out fall where a shallow flat area had been selected enabling the team to conduct practice emergency ditching and donning procedures for the apparatus. The students performed the task until all students’ and staff were confident and then surfaced for a short reprieve before conducting the first of two dives to be conducted.

The first dive would be within the general area of the spring outfall, a relatively small bowl area containing a variety of interesting fish including some small fresh water flounder. The group gained comfort with the masks and communications systems while at the same time playing in the flow of crystal clear water erupting from the wall of the bowl.

Again the group surfaced to answer any questions and begin preparations for the next dive to be conducted in the sink area of the park “Cat Fish Hotel” The group entered the water and paused to allow the ADP’s resident photographer and webmaster Mike Pomeroy to capture the moment before descending into the gin clear water below. The area was amazing and the team had no trouble finding much to look at over the course of the dive.

The park maintains a website containing multitudes of information on this and other Florida State parks at http://www.dep.state.fl.us/parks/district2/manateesprings/