I’ve seen more dives ruined by dive mask problems than any other piece of dive gear. Hey, if you can’t see, what’s the point? Furthermore, a leaky dive mask will lead to coughing, sputtering, and an overall sense of claustrophobia. You gotta have the right dive mask—and faces are as individual as fingerprints. Throw in moustaches, scars, etc., and you’ve got a mix that can be hard to overcome. The good news is masks are better than ever.
Here are the three most important points to consider in selecting a dive mask:
SEAL
A proper seal is by far the most important factor. Without it you’ll forever be fighting excess water inside your mask. A seal is a function of right where the mask skirt meets your face. The mask seal should have a double-feather edge in all areas, except perhaps under the nose.
To test for a good seal of a mask, relax your face and press the mask gently on your face, creating a slight vacuum. Do not suck in or hold the mask on. The mask should remain in place for at least several seconds without the strap in place. Now, do the same thing again but with your regulator in your mouth; this changes the shape of your face and, hence, is crucial to fit. You may even want to test mask with your regulator in your mouth and a hood on. A hood will also change the shape of your face.
Perhaps the hardest faces to seal a mask against are those with a moustache. I am asked all the time how I do it. You have three choices: first, trim your moustache down a bit to give the mask some bare skin to seal against; second, use a bit of Vaseline in your moustache to assist in the seal. This will, however, discolor the mask over time. And finally, find a mask that fits. They do exist. You’ll have to spend some time looking, but I have one that works with my hairy upper lip. I dive a TUSA Platina mask that fits firm against the bottom of my nose, yet has a large sealing surface underneath.
FIT