GuardianFullFaceMask

RevisedFebruary26,2016

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South Carolina Aquarium Dive Operations

ArnoldPostellDiveSafetyOfficer/SeniorBiologist(843)579-8536apostell@scaquarium.org

RyanYuenAssistantDiveSafetyOfficer(843)579-8503ryuen@scaquarium.org

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It is the mission of the South Carolina Aquarium (SCA) Dive Team to provide

excellence in animal care and husbandry, to actively support both the

educational and conservation endeavors of the SCA, and to provide a memorable, positive guest experience

to all those who visit our facility.

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TrainingSchedule• PowerPointPresentation

> StatementofUnderstandingandQuizrequiredbeforein-wateruse

• GOT:2divesminimum> DiveOne:Donning,Doffing,andEqualizing> DiveTwo:EmergencyBailoutProcedure

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Introduction• TheGuardianFullFaceMask(GFFM)permitsGOTdiverstotalkwiththeguestsduringourpresentations.

• Atothertimes,itcanbeusedtotalktosurfacesupport

• AllGOTdiversmustreceivetrainingintheGFFMbeforeuse*

• Priortothistrainingthedivermusthaveatleast10divesintheGOTand 5daysofvolunteering*

* SCA Diver Handbook

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ReasonstoDiveGFFM• Communications• EnvironmentalProtection• Security• Comfort• Fun

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Wirelessvs.Wire• Wireless

> Easeofmovement-willnotsnagonobjects

> Interferencebymachinery

• Wire> Youarealwaystendered(safety)

> Improvedcommunications- lessinterference

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GuardianFullFaceMaskManufacturedbyOceanTechnologySystems

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SCAFFMRegulator• TherearespecificRegs

dedicatedforusewithGFFM> Thesecanbeidentifiedbya

QuickDisconnectinlieuoftheprimaryregulator

> TheQuickDisconnecthasarotatinglocktopreventaccidentaldisconnect

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DonningtheMask• Fullyextendallstraps• Neverpre-adjuststraps.• Pullmaskandstrapsover

yourhead,seatingthemaskonyourfacewiththebackoftheharnesslowonthebackofyourhead

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DonningCont.• Keepingtheharness

centeredonthebackofyourhead,evenlytightenthestrapsoneachsidebypullingstraightback.

• Startwiththelowerjawstraps(1),thentightenthetemplestraps(2).Tightenthetopstraponlyasnecessary(3).

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Beforeenteringthewater• VerifythattheAmbient

BreathingValveisclosedpriortodiving.

• Verifytheairtankisturnedon.Take2breatheswhilewatchingthepressuregauge.

• Verifythepositionoftheequalizingassemblypriortodiving.

• Verifythecommunicationboxisturnedon.

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AmbientBreathingValve• ThismaskisequippedwithanAmbientBreathingValve(ABV)

• TheABVallowsthedivertoconserveairwhileonthesurface.

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ABVcont.• EnsurethattheABVisclosedpriortodivingtopreventleaks.

• ToclosetheABVturnitclockwiseuntilisfingertight.

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Equalizing• Thereareacombinationofnoseblockpiecesthatshouldallowforeaseofclearingyourearswhilediving.

• Youwillneedtoexperimenttofindtherightfitforyou!

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Equalizingcont.• Youshouldbeabletopushupontheregulatorandhavetheequalizingassemblyblockyournosesothatagentleexhalethroughyournosewillallowyourearstoclearcomfortably.

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Microphone• Themicrophoneshouldbe

positionedwithin¼”oftherightcornerofthediversmouth.

• Thedivershouldbespeakingintothesideofthemicrophone(*seepicture)

• Watercandamagethemicrophoneunderpressureatdepth

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Earphones• Theearphonesshouldbe

pulledtowardthebackoftheharnessstrapwhenstartingtodonthemasktopreventbindinginthebuckles.

• Oncetheharnessissecured,pulledtheearphonesforwardtorestdirectlyoverthediversear.

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CommunicationsLineConnection• Ensurethatthereisagood

connectionatthemask-communicationlineplug.

• Donotswimwiththemaskdisconnectedfromthecommunicationlinewithoutusingthe“dummy”plug.

• WatchthatthecommunicationlinedoesnotgetentangledontherockworkoronCaretta

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TopsideCommunicationsBox• Thedivermicrophoneand

earphonesmustbeturnedon(1)

• TheCommunicationswitchmustbeturnedonforsoundtogotothepublic.(2)

• ThereisadirectcommunicationbetweentopsideandGFFMdiverbypressingandholdingtheredbutton(3)whiletalkingintothespeaker(4)

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• Buddies should suit up at same time•Make sure the communications line is clipped to the divers BCD•GFFM diver should do a quick sound check with a Topside Diver, using the communications box.•GFFM diver should maintain contact with their other Divers UW•This is still a required “close contact” buddy team.

ReadytoDive

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RemovingTheMask• Toremovethemask,placebothhandsonthebaseofthemask,thumbsonthetabsofeachofthejaw(lower)bucklesandpulltheseforward.

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RemovingtheMaskcont.• Rotatethemaskoutoffofthechin,upandoveryourface.

• Extendeachstraptohaveitreadyforthenexttimethemaskisused.

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AirLeaksUnderwater• Ifthemaskleaksair,you

mayneedtotightenorloosensomeorallstraps> ie.ifthebottomstrapsaretoo

tightitcananglethetopskirtawayfromyourhead

• Themaskshouldbesnug,butnotuncomfortable.

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EmergencyBailoutTraining> ActivationofRASS> RemovalofGFFMunderwater> SwitchingtonormalmaskandRASS> ReplacementofGFFMunderwater

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EmergencyClearingoftheMask• Floodingisunusual• Themaskiseasytoclear.• Tiltheadbackata45degreeangleandpurgethemaskfor3secondswhilepullingoutslightlyonthebottomofthemask.

• Cautiouslyinhaletoensurethewateriscleared.• Tiltheadtotheleftat45degreeangleandexhaleforcefullytoclearanyremainingwater.

• Repeatifnecessary.

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Emergency:MaskFailure• Carryyourownmaskwithyouwhiledivingonfullfacemask

• MaskcanbecarriedinBCDpocket,attachedusingastrapoftheBCDorotherreadilyaccessibleposition

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Emergency:OutofAir• Ascent

> Normalascent> RASS> AlternateAirSource(SelforBuddy’sOcto)> ControlledEmergencySwimmingAscent> BuddyBreathing> Buoyantascent

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LossofCommunications• Possibleproblems

> LossofReception> LossofTransmission> Both

• Continuewithshow(ifpossible)• Reacttoeducator’sdirections,particularlyifyoucanhear

educator

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AftertheDive• Turnofthepoweronthecommunicationsbox• Disconnectmaskfromcommunicationsrope• Donotdisconnectthemaskfromthecom.linewhileitisstillonandinthewater.

• Ensuredustcapissecureonthefirststageimmediatelyafterremovalfromtheairtank.

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DisinfectProcedure

• Maskshouldbequicklyrinsedinfreshwaterbucket

• ThenspraywithBirexandwait10Minutes

• Rinseagainwithfreshwaterbeforebeingputawayorbetweendivers.

• Maskshouldbehungupsidedowntodrain.

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DryingtheMask• Rotate&Drainaccumulated

wateroutofthemaskbeforeputtingitaway.> Thistakesawhilebutprevents

moldbuildup

• Themaskshouldbehungbystraps

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DryingtheMask

• Avoidscratchinginsidelensonhangingpegs> DONOT hangmaskbyit’s

skirtorpressthelenstothehangingpegs

• PleasepairGFFMwithaGFFMreg

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Hintsforasuccessfulshow

• Befamiliarwithscripts• Befamiliarwithinteresting/unusualfactsaboutanimalsin

GOT• Coordinatewitheducatordoingtheshow• Checkcommunicationsonsurface• WatchAirConsumption• Remember…whileonthefullfacemaskassumethatallof

yourcommentswillbeheardbyguests

Be professional …. You are !

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OTS-VideoSection• Pleasefollowthelinkprovidedandviewthesixvideo’son

properuseoftheGuardianFFM• http://www.oceantechnologysystems.com/full-face-mask-training-videos/

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