As divers we know the importance of equipping ourselves with the best gear for the job. Sometimes we use old-school, tried and tested gear, sometimes we use the latest and greatest. The most important thing is to ensure the gear will perform as required and not fail at a potentially critical moment.

In my role as Shark Diving Safety Officer for the Mythbusters shoot Patric Douglas from Sharkdiver.com supplied me with the latest Ocean Reef full face masks, the Neptune Space. I have to admit, sometimes I'm little skeptical about new gear, these days a lot of scuba gear is blatantly over-engineered and not all that practical (don't get me started on integrated weight systems!), however these masks were a pleasant surprise and performed well in many trialling situations.


Ocean Reef page

Aaron from Ocean Reef asked me to write a review for his website:

When it comes to working and diving with sharks, Luke demands only the best equipment. As a marine biologist he works with numerous species of sharks from top order predators such as the Great White and Tiger Shark to more gentle species like the filter feeding Whale Shark. His accomplishments include writing tourism guidelines for Honduras based on his field research, and safely guiding hundreds of clients while diving the infamous Guadalupe Island, Mexico, and Tiger Shark Beach in the Bahamas. Recently he consulted and conducted film shoots for both Discovery Channel and the French documentary company Ushwaia. His is regularly contracted to coordinate potential life and death situations, understandably he is very particular about where he puts his trust.

"Full face masks are absolutely essential to my job, in fact I'm not sure how we'd get the spectacular results my clients expect without the ability to communicate clearly underwater. I often run a team of safety divers, camera operators and underwater talent, all of whom are involved in an intricate dance of filming top order predators while relying on me to ensure their safety."

Luke has just finished shooting with Discovery Channels "Mythbusters", Adam Savage and Jamie Hynemann, on their premiere program for Shark Week 2008.

"Ocean Reef masks were an integral part of shooting Mythbusters' Shark Week 2008. With so many myths to bust or confirm, we required reliable full face masks that also look great on camera. The Ocean Reef Neptune Space was exactly what the job required, and I was stoked on how comfortable they were even after an 8 hour day underwater!"
Check out more of what Luke is doing with Ocean Reefs products at www.luketipple.com

I'm pleased to say these masks performed as expected and while not absolutely perfect they are definitely comfortable and should be considered by recreational and pro divers alike who are looking into the full face mask option.

Pros:

* Super comfortable
* Great field of view and zero fogging
* Zero jaw fatigue (important on long days underwater)
* Intuitive nose plugs enable simple and quick equalization
* Clear communication between divers
* Compatible with various brands of base-station
* Low air consumption
* Available in all black (because black dive gear is just cool!)
* Looks great in camera!

Cons:

* Tend to free-flow in serious current
* Communication with base-station can be a little hard to hear over boat noise for the tender
* The NACS ™ system of attaching the ear piece (basically a piece of rigid plastic) is a little flimsy and stands a chance of breaking with hardcore use… this shouldn't be a deterrent as they also attach to the head band in a very sturdy fashion, a much better option and really comfortable.

All in all a great piece of gear and one that I will use over and over with my safety team.

Cheers guys.