SCUBA Gear Tips: Choosing The Right DIVE Mask

My Advice For Choosing Dive Masks

Welcome to the first instalment of our Dive Gear Tips mini series! For this first installment, we’ll be concentrating on how to figure out which scuba mask would be the best fit for you.

Choosing the right mask is essential to your dive kit, not only to help you see underwater but to heighten your focus too. There is a wide variety of designs available and hopefully with the following tips, you’ll be well on your way to choosing the right mask for you.

Why Do We Need To Wear a Dive Mask?

A scuba mask is a very important bit of kit, not only does it provide protection from the elements but it also adds airspace between your eyes and the water. You see, water is 800x denser than air and although your eyes are able to focus naturally in air, this is not the case when underwater without an airspace - your sight becomes blurry. Wearing a mask, restores your sight with the aid of the provided airspace and takes the weight of the dense water environment. Scuba masks are also necessary in order to equalise properly. When descending during a dive, the ambient pressure rises which can cause the infamous and painful ‘mask squeeze’. The nose needs to be included in the airspace in order to allow air to flow out through the nose to relieve the pressure difference in the mask.

What To Look For in a SCUBA Mask

A typical dive mask has 5 parts to it: the lens, the nose pocket, the skirt, the strap and the frame. When looking for a scuba mask, it’s important to factor in durability, good quality and a good fit. For safety reasons the lens should be made of tempered glass, not plastic and especially not standard glass. Standard glass has a much higher possibility of breaking and causing serious injury. Next, make sure the nose pocket is easily accessible with your fingers and check the straps for adjustability allowance. It’s always best to go for a diver-friendly mask made with a silicone skirt and lastly, always choose quality over anything else! Buying a low budget mask could be made with cheap materials and more prone to major leakage.

How to Fit a Dive Mask

Once you’ve found a mask design that you like, it’s time to try it on and check the quality of fit. First, without using the strap, position the mask against your face and inhale through your nose. Take your hands away and see if the mask stays put without needing to hold it. Try keeping it there for a while to see if it slips and if it doesn’t then it might just be a good fit for you. Be sure to check the nose pocket is suitable then gently exhale to release the seal and remove the mask. Has it left any marks on your face? If yes, then this isn’t the mask for you. If no and you’re happy with the comfort of the mask, then you’ve found the perfect fit!

Best Place To Buy a Dive Mask

It’s best to visit a dive shop in person rather than go online, as the staff will be the best people to ask if you have any questions at all. Many dive shops can even order in your preference if they don’t have it on hand and can offer both great advice and recommendations. It’s also useful to note that if you normally wear prescription glasses and/or contact lenses, then it might be worth investing in a prescription scuba mask.

Get started on searching for that perfect Dive mask

Check Out These Amazing Dive Masks on Amazon

Buy a Cressi Matrix Mask ➜

Buy a Hollis M1 Mask ➜

Buy a Mares Viper Mask ➜

Buy a Scubapro Synergy Dive Mask ➜

So there you have it, all the tips you need to get started on searching for that perfect dive mask. If you would like to read some scuba diving mask reviews and discover what we personally thought about the masks we useand why to use as a starting point check out our Dive Gear Reviews

Also ake sure to look out for and continue onto our second installment of Dive Gear Tips! Dive Gear Tips: Choosing The Right Fins