Needless to say Scuba diving masks are an integral piece of dive gear and can greatly influence the comfort of a dive. Much needed to keep the stinging salt water out of your eyes, Scuba masks make your view of coral, fish, sea mammals and other life that much more clearer. Dive masks come in an endless choice of style and color and choosing the right fit and type is crucial. After all, nothing can ruin a dive faster than mask squeeze or constantly having to clear your mask that keeps flooding.
Here’s all you need to know about dive masks-
Types of Scuba Masks:
Single Lens/ Single Window Mask
This type of mask uses a single pane lens across both sides of the mask. There is no physical separation of the lenses and although you can’t really see much between your eyes, it allows you to pick up movement there instead of a blind spot.
Double Window Mask
As the name indicates, double window masks use two lens panes separated into two sides in the middle, just above the nose bridge. It’s not a major disadvantage as compared to a single window mask, as your line of sight usually doesn’t extend to this area.
Three Window Masks
Three window masks use a single pane lens across the front of the dive mask and replace have box like side windows on either side which allow a wider range of vision on the sides than regular masks.
Dive Masks with Purge
These types of masks have a purge valve on the bottom of the nose, allowing divers to clear the mask by simply exhaling into the mask while the water escapes through the one way valve. While the purge is placed for simplicity of mask clearing two fairly common complaints with this type of mask seems to be problems equalizing and leaks at depths. At the same time many divers have no complaints and love having the purge feature in their mask.
Full Face Scuba Mask
These scuba diving masks cover the divers whole face. Water is sealed out and a mouthpiece is built into the mask allowing the diver to breathe. Full face masks aren’t very common in recreational diving unless diving in very cold waters. In the case of cold water diving full face masks are used along with hoods so that the divers skin or face doesn’t come into contact with the cold water at all.
What to consider while choosing a Scuba mask
After selecting a style from the above types according to preference, it’s very important to look at the silicon skirting around the mask. The skirting and shape of the mask must fit your face well to provide you with a comfortable fit. Also the quality of the silicon should be good. Higher quality silicon is usually found in the more expensive models and will feel softer and more flexible than poorer grade silicon.
Another important consideration to make while picking out a dive mask is the nose pocket. Different types of masks have different shaped nose pockets. Check that your nose fits comfortably in the pocket without touching your nose. This will help protect and cushion your nose as well as have necessary air pockets that’ll help equalizing and purging water out in case any gets in.
Lastly the strap should be off good quality and fit your head comfortably. Many straps are made of rubber or silicon and come in a single or double strap option. The advantage of the double strap is that you can position the top strap on the upper part of your head and the bottom strap on the lower part of your head to offer extra stability and comfort. You can also opt for a soft strap cover to protect your hair from getting entangled in the strap.
Take these points into consideration if your in the market for your first or a new scuba mask and it’ll pay off in comfortable, leak free dives. Happy Diving!!
