Your Mask

Neoprene is just nicer for anyone with hair, sliding over a hood and replacing a mask that has been knocked off or taken off. Also, once they are properly fitted to your face they will not accidently change strap length. Once you use one...you'll never go back.

You may want to have the traditional strap on any backup mask you use so that anyone in your dive team can use it easily, because their head is different size than yours and resizing the mask using the adjustable "click" system is easier than velcro in an emergency.

[GUE YouTube] Replacing mask with one hand - Hey! That's my GUE instructor!

Anyone who says that a mask on your forehead means you are in distress is...how should we say...not thinking clearly. That is not how a distressed diver looks on the surface. However, you could face inappropriate social angst...so spin it around and put the strap on your forehead and the mask on the back side.

The worst option is to have your mask in your hand or around your arm...it will fall/get in the water and ruin the defog.

Careful of the defog

If you choose to not store your mask on your head as you enter the water, you need to be VERY careful of whatever defog you have put in your mask. Once the inside of the mask hits the water you have only a few seconds before the defog is washed off.