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Diving
Masks
| Diving masks
are part of your basic equipment,
they consist
of a lens, a rubber skirt, and a strap, and they also come in
a
variety of
styles. And in the company of a Snorkel
and Fins, you will
start enjoying the underwater world. |
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When
buying a Diving Mask
TIP
# 1: Look at the lens and see if is TEMPERED glass
(they resist
scratches and breakage, and if broken, tempered glass will crumble into
small, less
dangerous, pieces).
TIP
#2: Mask materials are Neoprene rubber that is used
for less expensive
masks and Silicone masks that last three to four times longer than
neoprene.
Both materials can be colored but today’s favorite coloring
agent used
in masks
is black.
TIP
#3:
Silicone clear or translucent masks are more
commonly used than
black. People prefer these because they allow more light. After
few years
and/or lack of use, it becomes yellow.
TIP # 4:
A diving mask that does’t fit properly may
be uncomfortable and leak. To determine if mask fits, follow these
steps: A)
remove strap out of the way. B)
Place mask lightly against your face while
looking up. C)
Inhale through the nose and the mask should remain firmly in
place, despite gentle tugging or head shaking.
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Make
it a habit to always perform a check on all your equipment before a dive.
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Masks
Maintenance
When
new,
diving masks
have an oily film over the
surface. To remove it, put a small drop of toothpaste (not gel) on the
lens and
rub over it, thoroughly, then rinse the mask in fresh water.
Repeat if
necessary.
Also use this method after long storage periods, in between, diving; it
will
help prevent the mask fogging up while diving.
Other
effective de-fogging methods
are saliva: inexpensive and readily available and it works by letting
the saliva dry for a second or two, and then rinsing the mask out.
Other special anti-fog solutions are sold in all
dive shops. Just remember to rinse your mask out properly because you
don’t want to get it in your eyes.
While underwater,
to defog your mask, simply let water go inside the mask and clean it
the way
you were taught.
After
diving, always clean all your equipment in
fresh water; removing all the
salt,
dirt, and sediments like sand. Remember to dry your equipment out of
direct
sunlight.
Time to choose one
Mask with single lens
First
style mask used by divers since 1930s-1940s,
high internal volume (for equalizing and
clearing). They had a
narrow field of vision in early years, but new style of single
lens provides a
wide field of vision with lens that is semi-flat. You can also find
masks wit lenses on the side. See examples below.
Mask
with double lens
A revolution that started in the
1980. Very
low volume, easy to equalize and clear. This type of mask is good when you require to change lenses for prescription lenses. See examples below.
Mask
with single-double lens
New
style of masks with an angle on the lens to
provide better view of chest area. You can find single and double lens masks in this style. See examples below.
Other
Mask Styles:
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Mask
with no frame
New style of mask design with no frame, reduced
weight and folds
easily to
fit in any BCD pocket.
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 | Mask with coloured lensesThe
coloured lenses mask like the one shown on the left has a non reflective
coating lenses. Leads to increased contrast, protects from the Sun,
enhances clarity and colours. |
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Full-face
diving masks
Often used in professional diving. They are relatively rarely used in
recreational diving, where they protect the face from cold water or
stings, such as from jellyfish or coral. |
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The
DATA-MASK
LCD inside the mask will provide the
same data as a
diving computer: current depth, elapsed dive time, cylinder pressure,
and dive time remaining.
More about diving computers |
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Mask
with purge valve
The purge valve allows water to drain easily out of the mask,
by exhaling through your nose. Good for snorkeling, but in our
opinion, not for diving. The purge valve can become an obstacle
when pinching your nose to equalize your ears. |
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