Interspiro Full Face Masks & Surface Supplied Air for Public Safety Diving
Brent Clevenger Dec 23, 2025
Interspiro Full Face Masks and Surface Supplied Air in Public Safety Diving
When I was a very new public safety diver, I remember the first time I heard the name Interspiro.
At the time, I didn’t know much about full face masks, surface supplied air, or the broader world of professional dive systems. I was just trying to learn how to be a competent, reliable diver on a public safety dive team that did the best it could with what it had.
Our team leader back then was a grizzled old guy named Al. He had decades of experience, a no-nonsense attitude, and a deep respect for the realities of public safety work. One day, during a conversation about equipment, Al mentioned that he had heard about a full face mask called the Interspiro AGA. He said he wished there was some way to get a demo — just to try it and see what all the talk was about.
That was it. No pitch. No expectation. Just curiosity from someone who had been around long enough to recognize quality when he heard about it.
At the time, our team was diving in our own personal scuba gear. There was no real budget for dive team equipment, no dedicated funds for masks, communications, or specialized systems. If you were on the team, you brought what you had. That reality is still familiar to many public safety dive teams today.
Years later, that memory still sticks with me.
From Personal Gear to Professional Systems
Fast forward many years, and my perspective has changed — not because the mission changed, but because my exposure did.
Over time, I gained experience not only as a diver, but as an instructor, technician, and someone deeply involved in training, equipment selection, and long-term program development. Along the way, I’ve had the opportunity to work with and own many full face masks across different manufacturers and configurations — including Interspiro systems.
What once felt like an unreachable piece of professional equipment is now something I understand from a practical, operational standpoint.
That matters.
Because full face masks and surface supplied air systems are not about brand names — they’re about solving problems public safety divers actually face.
Why Full Face Masks Matter in Public Safety Diving
Public safety diving is fundamentally different from recreational diving. Visibility is often poor or nonexistent. Water conditions may be contaminated. Communication is critical. Task loading is high.
Full face masks address several of these challenges at once:
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Secure airway protection
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Improved thermal retention
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Integrated communications capability
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Reduced jaw fatigue compared to traditional regulators
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Better control in stressful, low-visibility environments
For dive teams conducting search, recovery, evidence work, or training in harsh conditions, these advantages are not theoretical — they’re operational.
Where Surface Supplied Air Fits In
Surface supplied air is often discussed as a “next step,” but in reality, it’s a mission-driven decision.
In the right context, surface supplied systems offer:
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Extended bottom time without cylinder changes
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Continuous surface-to-diver communication
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Redundancy through bailout systems
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Greater control and accountability during complex operations
Interspiro systems are commonly associated with surface supplied air because they were designed from the ground up for professional use, not adapted from recreational gear.
That distinction becomes important when teams start planning for long-term capability instead of short-term workarounds.
Training, Support, and Reality
One thing Al understood all those years ago — and something I still emphasize today — is that equipment alone does not solve problems.
Full face masks and surface supplied air systems require:
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Proper training
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Ongoing maintenance
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Fit testing and configuration
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Team-wide buy-in and standardization
Many teams hesitate not because they doubt the value, but because they worry about complexity, cost, and long-term support. Those are valid concerns, especially for agencies working within tight budgets.
The key is working with people who understand both sides of the equation: the operational need and the administrative reality.
Looking Back — and Forward
When I think back to that conversation with Al, I don’t hear regret — I hear curiosity and professionalism. He wasn’t chasing gear for the sake of gear. He wanted to understand what was available, what worked, and how it could help his team do the job better.
Today, having worked with and owned a wide range of full face masks — including Interspiro systems — I understand exactly why that curiosity mattered.
Public safety diving continues to evolve. Equipment improves. Training standards rise. Expectations increase. What doesn’t change is the need for honest guidance rooted in real experience.
A Final Thought
For agencies considering full face masks or surface supplied air systems, the most important step isn’t choosing a brand — it’s choosing the right support, training, and long-term strategy.
Those decisions deserve the same professionalism and care that public safety divers bring to every mission.
If you’re exploring options or simply want to understand what modern PSD systems can offer, start with education — the rest follows naturally.
Sink or Swim Scuba provides comprehensive public safety diving services, including equipment support, training resources, and long-term program guidance for agencies nationwide.
