Full Face Scuba Masks

A full face scuba mask offers an innovative approach to underwater breathing, providing enhanced comfort, visibility, and protection. Unlike traditional dive masks, these masks cover your entire face, allowing you to breathe naturally through your nose and mouth. If you tried a traditional scuba-diving regulator and mask setup and it felt uncomfortable or didn’t quite work as you hoped, a full-face mask is worth considering. While traditional scuba diving masks and regulators consist of multiple components that leave large portions of the face exposed, full face diving masks provide a single streamlined setup for added convenience.

If you're looking for a full face diving mask with snorkel for surface use or a high-performance full face diving mask for scuba adventures, we have top-rated options to suit your needs. Designed for both recreational and professional divers, these masks improve communication, reduce jaw fatigue, and provide a secure fit for an optimal diving experience.

Why Some Divers Prefer Full Face Masks

Many professional and recreational divers prefer full-face masks for several key reasons related to both safety and comfort. 

Breathing Methods

Full-face masks let you breathe underwater through your nose and mouth. If you feel awkward breathing only through your mouth with a traditional regulator setup, you may find more comfort in a full-face mask.

Communication

It’s much easier to communicate with other divers or with a dive boat when you’re wearing a full-face mask. Rather than relying on hand signals, you can use mask intercoms because your mouth remains unobstructed.

Comfort

In frigid water, a full-face mask will protect the sensitive skin on your face that would normally remain exposed in a traditional scuba setup. Because they completely cover your face, they also protect you from jellyfish stings and contaminants.

Emergency Functionality

Should the worst happen and you lose consciousness, your securely fitted full-face mask will continue to supply you with oxygen. This can buy you valuable time in an emergency.

Visibility

Full-face masks provide a much larger window to the underwater world than traditional scuba masks. You don’t have to worry about blind spots or mask frames getting in the way of your vision. Full-face masks also easily accommodate prescription eyeglasses.

Full Face Mask Features to Consider

Many full-face masks offer great features like built-in defogging systems, communication devices, protection from contaminated water, and compatibility with a range of gas mixes. As you shop, consider the most important features for your comfort and safety. Also pay attention to mask sizing and dimensions to ensure a good fit.

Leading Brands for Full Face Masks

The best scuba diving brands regularly upgrade the technology and features they deliver in their full-face masks to provide a better experience for scuba divers. From patented bellows-style face skirts to revolutionary materials, brands like Ocean Reef, OTS, and Poseidon focus on safety, functionality, and comfort when developing new products.

Why Should I Use a Full Face Dive Mask?

Many scuba divers prefer full-face masks over traditional dive masks. Not only do they offer better visibility thanks to a larger 180-degree window of vision, they also make it easier and more natural to breathe. 

With a full-face mask you can breathe through your nose or mouth and you don’t have to hold any component of your breathing gear in your mouth. That leaves your mouth free for communication with other divers or your dive boat via intercoms.

Full Face Masks vs Normal Dive Masks: What’s the Difference?

A normal dive mask covers only the top half of your face. Your eyes are protected with either one or two glass or acrylic lenses and your nose is surrounded by silicone to keep water from entering your nostrils. When using a regular dive mask, your breathing gas is supplied through a mouthpiece that’s separate from your mask.

A full-face mask for scuba diving is a single assembly containing your air supply and your vision protection. 

How do I Clean My Full Face Mask?

Because your full-face mask is connected to your regulator, you need to be careful in how you clean it. If your mask and regulator come apart, you can clean the mask components with warm, fresh water and a mild soap or dish detergent. Rinse the mask with warm water and let it air dry.

Clean the regulator components with warm, fresh water only. After rinsing your regulator, press the purge button and blow any remaining water out.

What are the Benefits of Full Face Masks?

Full-face masks may not be as common for recreational diving, but they’re fantastic for dives when communication is key. Professional divers, underwater film crews, scientists, and salvage divers often prefer full-face masks for an easier workflow and communication. 

Because you don’t have to hold the regulator in your mouth, full-face masks also save you from jaw pain and fatigue during dives. They’re extra helpful in cold water dives because they keep the frigid water off your face.

How Long Can You Stay Under Water with a Full Face Mask?

While full-face masks designed for snorkeling have significant limitations for how long you can safely stay underwater with them, none of those limitations apply for full-face scuba masks. Your full-face scuba mask operates as effectively as other styles of scuba masks, so you can stay submerged for the full duration of your dive.

Your scuba-dive duration is only limited by your breathing gas availability and your depth. As long as you follow all f the traditional safety precautions for nitrogen absorption and air consumption, your style of scuba mask won't affect your dive duration.