A dive mask is essential to enjoying the glorious wonders that are to be found underwater. It is your window into the aquatic world that you love and without it, you would see nothing but blurred colors. That is why finding the perfect dive mask is crucial to your diving experience. Unfortunately, not all mask are created equal. That's why we've put together our list of things to look for in choosing the perfect dive mask for your face.
What to look for in the perfect mask:
The perfect fit
If you haven't noticed, faces come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Because of this, gear manufacturers have produced masks that can fit pretty much any of these shaped faces, that's why when you walk into a dive store the wall is full of a gazillion different dive masks to choose from. Your best bet here is to ask your local dive professional which masks were designed to fit a face shaped like yours. They can help you zero in on masks that would work best for you.
When trying on the masks you want to do the "suction test." To find a mask that has a proper and good seal on your face, place the mask against your face (without putting the strap over your head) and suck in (or inhale) through your nose gently, then hold your breath. If the mask stays stuck to your face for more than a few seconds, it has a good seal and fits your face well.
Tempered Glass Lens
Don’t waste your time on anything but a mask that has tempered glass lenses. Tempered glass is scratch resistant, super clear, and holds up to the increasing pressure when diving. If the lens does break for some reason, the glass crumbles into a bunch of smaller fragments like the windshield of your car to prevent cutting.
Color
These days you can get dive masks in almost every color of the rainbow. For some divers, matching gear is high on the priority list so you’ll want to find the right shade of blue, red, or pink to match your other gear. Maybe you’re an underwater photographer or spearfisher and want to reduce the glare coming into your mask. You’ll want to choose a mask that does not have a clear skirt. Just a few years ago black was pretty much the only option here, but now many dive brands are expanding their mask skirt options to blue, green, and even white.
Silicone Skirt
Just as tempered glass is the only way to go for your lens, such is the case with silicone for the skirt of your mask. Silicone offers the softest and most pliable fit for dive masks. This will give you the most customized fit possible, greatly reducing leakage and increasing comfort.
Easy to use Buckles
The last thing that makes up the perfect dive mask and maybe the last thing you would consider is the mask strap buckles. Some buckles are so complicated you need a Ph.D. to figure them out. The last thing you want is to be fiddling with your mask strap during a dive so it’s super important to have buckles you can easily tighten and loosen on the mask. The ultimate test for this is if you can loosen your mask strap easily on your face while you are wearing a pair of dive gloves. Make sure you try it out before leaving the store.
A dive mask may be a small piece of gear but it can make or break a dive. A fogging, leaking mask that is slipping off of your face can all be easily prevented by following our guidelines in choosing the perfect dive mask. What are you waiting for? Come on in and see our gear specialists now at Underseas Scuba Center.
