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Rant: That $700 Kirby Morgan band mask I babied for 2 years just cracked on a simple 30ft dive
I spent all that cash and followed every cleaning step to the letter, but the seal gave out during a routine hull inspection off Galveston last Tuesday. The repair quote is $350, basically half the cost of a new one, and I'm kicking myself for not buying a cheaper backup. Is it worth fixing these high-end masks, or should I just go with a different brand next time?
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lily708d ago
Man I feel this in my bones... spent damn near $800 on a fancy mask once thought I was being smart taking such good care of it and on like the 12th dive a little stress crack showed up right where the skirt meets the frame. At that point I just taped it up with some silicone sealant and prayed it'd hold for the rest of the summer, which it did for about three more dives before it gave out completely. Now I just buy mid-range masks and treat em like rental gear, saves me the heartache when they inevitably break.
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torres.grant8d ago
I hear you on the mid-range thing, but I've actually had the opposite experience. My Kirby Morgan has been through hundreds of dives and still going strong, no issues at all. That $800 mask probably would have lasted if it was made better, not just more expensive. Sometimes you get what you pay for, sometimes you don't.
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Yeah, but did you try contacting Kirby Morgan first? Sometimes they'll cut you a deal on replacement parts if you push back a little. I've heard of people getting warranty replacements even out of the standard window if they're persistent enough. At $350 for a repair though I'd probably just cut my losses and buy something different. Those high end masks are great when they work but the second something goes wrong you're stuck with a pricey paperweight. Mid-range is the way to go for recreational stuff, you can buy two or three of them for what one fancy one costs. Plus you don't stress every time you knock it against a tank valve.
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