Masks

Buying the Right Dive Masks

Dive masks are used by both scuba divers and free divers.  They offer eye protection whilst you are in the water and the clear paned designs allow you clear and unobstructed vision.  

One of the main issues with dive masks is keeping them fog-free.  One of the best ways to do this is to make sure you buy a good quality dive mask.  The cheaper versions have rubber skirts (the seal around the edge) which do not always provide the best fit.  This means water can leak in around the skirt which is not only uncomfortable but it will cause your mask to fog up more easily.  The more expensive versions are made with silicone skirts.  Silicone is a much softer and more flexible material so not only does it mould to your face more effectively (and create a watertight seal) but it is also much more comfortable to wear.

Here are a few tips for using dive masks:

-Dive schools and dive trip outlets may offer mask rental.  Although this is fine if you do not have your own kit if you intend to do a lot of diving you should invest in your own mask.  The skirt on masks will mould to suit individual face shapes.  This means masks that are worn by lots of different people will be less likely to provide a good fit.  If you have your own mask you can be sure of the fit and comfort.

-Visibility will be a key issue with dive masks.  If you want to make sure you can see as much as possible when you are in the water (an important safety consideration for activities such as spearfishing) then you can opt for split pan designs.  This gives you better all-round visibility than the single pane designs.

-When you are diving close to the surface in tropical areas the sun can be quite dazzling.  There are tinted dive masks available that can provide additional protection for your eyes in these conditions.  However these tinted masks will not be so suitable if you want to dive deeper down where there is less natural light.

-Masks can fog up no matter what you do.  You can cut down the amount of fogging by making sure you have a mask that fits you properly.  There are also anti-fog products on the market that can help reduce fogging when you are in the water.