Kirby Morgan band mask or just stick with the AGA...

I've been diving commercial for about 8 years now and I keep going back and forth on my mask setup. My old AGA finally gave out after a valve job in the Gulf last October, so I'm looking at dropping around $3,200 on a new Kirby Morgan 37. A buddy of mine in Louisiana swears by the AGA for shallow work but says the KM is better for deep stuff past 120 feet. Which one do you guys run most and has anybody regretted switching?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_ray23d ago

Man just get the KM 37 and dont look back. I ran an AGA for two seasons and that thing always fogged up on me at the worst times plus the seals wore out way too fast. The 37 is built like a tank and the voice comms are way clearer even at depth. Your buddy is right about shallow work being fine with the AGA but once you push past 100 feet the KM handles the pressure way better without leaking. I switched three years ago and never once regretted it. Save up the extra cash if you have to, its worth every penny.

paigem4523d ago

Funny nobody's mentioned how the KM's bigger cheek pads actually help with jaw fatigue on those 10+ hour saturation jobs (the AGA feels like it's crushing your face after a while).

ross.kevin13d ago

Gotta push back a little on that. The KM cheek pads are bigger but they actually trap more heat and moisture against your face during long sat runs, which can cause its own kind of discomfort after a while. I've seen guys switch back to AGA hybrids because of skin irritation from the KM foam breaking down faster in warm water. @the_ray mentioned fogging issues but that's usually a seal fit problem not a mask design flaw. The 37 is solid for sure but the AGA's liner system lets you swap pads without tools which is a big deal when you're already locked in the chamber for hours. Both have their tradeoffs, nobody's winning on comfort alone.