TriMagic swimming

The reports, as CPSC published them

1. Hurt, no treatment

   Made Oct 22, 2019 · , sent to the company Nov 15, 2019 · , published by CPSC Dec 2, 2019

   The product, in the report: TriMagic Full Face Snorkel Mask Adults and Kids, 180° Panoramic View Snorkeling Mask Set, Easy Breath, Anti-Fog, Anti-Leak, with Detachable Camera Mount Size small. Color blue.

   We purchased a full face mask snorkel from amazon prior to a family vacation to Mexico. My 4-year-old son used this product in the pool for about 15-20 minutes. He loved it and it seemed to be working well. However, when he got out he started crying uncontrollably that his head was hurting. He got dizzy and looked like he was going to pass out then started throwing up. He clearly was suffering carbon dioxide poisoning. We tried out the mask ourselves and were definitely breathing in mainly exhaled air. We felt horrible that we gave something to our son that made him sick and could have severely injured him. He was too young to be able to know that he wasn’t breathing properly. This product is completely unsafe, especially for young children who may not be able to tell something is wrong.

   Model

   SK001-TM007

   Bought from

   Amazon

   Bought

   Sep 15, 2019

   Where

   Puerto Morales, Mexico: Place of Recreation or Sports

   Who was involved

   Age 4, Male

   The reporter’s relation to them

   My Child

   As this report names them

   Brand TriMagic, made or sold by Shenzhen Tianjun Network Technology Co.

   How badly, in CPSC’s words

   Injury, No First Aid or Medical Attention Received

2. No one hurt

   Made Mar 12, 2018 · , sent to the company Jun 19, 2018 · , published by CPSC Jul 3, 2018

   The product, in the report: Snorkel Mask, TriMagic 180° Panoramic Full Face Design with Larger Viewing Area - Easier Breathing and GoPro Compatible with Anti-Fog and Anti-Leak

   Based on my personal experience, I believe the newer full-face snorkel mask style is inherently dangerous, to experienced snorkelers as well as novices.

   I had snorkeled and polespear-fished for 30 years in coastal Mexican waters on annual sailing vacations, and have spent entire days snorkeling throughout the daylight hours, with never a problem in various conditions. However, for a recent trip to Bali in October 2017, I splurged on a new full-face snorkel mask (I have dental tori that make the normal snorkel mouthpiece painful, over extended periods of wear.) As a result, I came near death due to carbon monoxide rebreathing in a strong current. I was unaware of the potential danger, going in.

   My 20-something niece -- a daily surfer and strong swimmer who lives in Bali -- and I were swimming off the beach at Crystal Bay on Nusa Penida, heading to a small islet located about 600 feet away (Pulai Batumejinong). I wore my snorkel mask and fins, while my niece was free swimming alongside me. Due in part to language barriers, and the assumption our local companions would warn us of any issues, we (foolishly) did not inquire about local conditions – I fully own that error. Upon reaching the islet, a local boat came by to warn us of a strong current at that end of the islet, and my niece said she was scared, so upon the boat’s departure, we decided to head immediately and directly back to the beach while we were still fresh, rather than explore the islet.

   However, a very strong current was indeed coming off the beach, making it difficult to make headway. I deliberately held my pace down to stay very close ahead of my niece because she did not have fins or snorkel, while I had my fins to propel me successfully against the current, so I was concerned for her. (Upon later discussion, I learned that she, in turn, was holding back her own speed out of concern for me, as I was far less fit than she – whereupon I pointed out to her that “at least fat floats.” ;) )

   The slow pace of our progress really concerned me, and I realized that I was growing tired enough that I’d not be able to lend my niece any useful aid should she need it. So, I gave the international distress wave to our friends on the beach, but they did not at first notice. When at last they did notice, despite being major surfers they were unfamiliar with that signal and so did not realize I was asking for aid. Seeing that they were not responding, I began swimming back in much harder, to overcome the current.

   Though I was indeed making slow progress against the current, I quickly found myself growing progressively weaker and out of breath – something I’d never experienced in my prior snorkeling experience, even when swimming hard to get back home after a long day meandering up a Mexican coastline. I could not understand what was happening to me – I vividly recall asking myself, again and again, “Why is this so hard?! What’s wrong with me?!” I would normally be able to maintain a strong kick for far longer, based on the pool training I’d been doing prior to the trip. I was not panicked, but did begin to grow first concerned and then scared that I wouldn’t outlast my need to keep going. I still did not panic, in part because I know drownproofing techniques, and can tread water with fins indefinitely; yet I did not want to be taken out to sea or up an unknown coastline. I kept on plugging, swimming hard and breathing hard despite tiring and my growing weakness. I made progress until at last (breathing extremely hard but regularly through the snorkel mask) I was able to set first a toehold, then a foothold onto the reef below me. I rested a bit there, then continued in sufficiently further that our beach buddies (now alerted and aware) were able to walk/run out through the surf to drag me the rest of the way in, by now gasping for breath. My niece followed, still swimming.

   I was so weak I could barely stand, and the first thing my niece said was to ‘get that snorkel mask off her!’ She and the others told me my lips were totally blue, and as I staggered up the sand and collapsed to sit on the beach, entirely spent and exhausted, she explained that she had read previously that there was a suspected problem with those snorkel masks.

   I must wholeheartedly concur.

   While these masks may be considered by some to be acceptable in kiddie-pool conditions, I personally have come to believe they pose an inherent danger, since they will compromise the survivability of anyone who encounters unexpected conditions that require them to swim hard, using sustained strong effort.

   Model

   ASIN B06Y3Z7JLL 180° Panoramic Full Face Snorkel Mask

   Bought from

   Amazon.com

   Bought

   Jul 11, 2017

   Where

   Island of Nusa Penida, Indonesia: Place of Recreation or Sports

   Who was involved

   Age 57, Female

   The reporter’s relation to them

   Self

   As this report names them

   Brand TriMagic, made or sold by Shenzhen Tianjun Network Technology Co.

   How badly, in CPSC’s words

   Incident, No Injury

CPSC’s disclaimer

Sources