Rant: Kirby Morgan band mask vs Ocean Reef, found out the hard way

I spent my first 18 months diving with an Ocean Reef G-Diver because it was cheap and my supervisor said it was fine for inspection work. Last month on a job in Port Arthur, my regulator started free flowing at 50 feet and the mouthpiece kept slipping. My buddy let me borrow his Kirby Morgan 37 for the last two days and I couldn't believe the difference. The exhaust valve alone made breathing feel natural, and the communication system actually worked instead of crackling. Anyone else had a moment where you realized you were fighting your gear instead of the job?

2 comments

2 Comments

rubyschmidt17d ago

Is my gear supposed to make me feel like a competent diver and not a malfunctioning washing machine?

the_jenny17d ago

Honestly, I'd argue that feeling like a malfunctioning washing machine means your gear is actually doing its job (keeping you alive and moving), it's just not pretty or quiet about it. Competence comes from muscle memory, not from gear that makes you feel smooth right out of the gate.