While you may think that using a dive mask is easy- you put it on, go for a dive, and are done, it is not the full picture. There are a few tips and tricks the pros use that make using a mask look easy and straightforward. Without these few simple steps, your mask can become a hassle and end up causing you a wide range of issues every time you go for a dive.
Choose your mask wisely
The first step when it comes to trouble-free diving with your mask is to choose your mask wisely. Selecting a mask that fits and works for you is the first step. Unless you get the right mask in the first place, there is no amount of tips and tricks that can turn using the wrong ill-fitting mask into a joy. Choosing a suitable mask is a lengthy process, but you can check out our complete guide on selecting the perfect dive mask for you.
Prepare your mask before every dive
A good pre-dive routine can make your dive a breeze and pre-empt any issue with fogging. There are three main methods for preparing your mask for a dive. The first two methods involve using either your spit or a defogging solution to treat your mask before a dive, which prevents it from fogging during the dive. Both methods work in the same way by creating a film on the mask lens.
Typically you would spit or give your lenses a quick spritz with the defogging solution before rinsing it off, and you are ready to go. One of the biggest mistakes divers make when using either method and why it often fails, is they don’t leave enough time between applying the defogger or spit and rinsing it off. The longer you leave it to dry off, the better the quality of the film and the more fog-resistant the mask is.
You can get the most out of these methods with an excellent pre-dive routine. Before a dive, prepare your mask with spit or defogger first, then put it to one side. Now you can carry on your preparations, assemble your gear, get into your wetsuit, etc. Finally, as the last step, just before you get in the water, give your mask a quick rinse, and you are ready to go fog-free.
An alternative is to invest in a mask like the Tidal Mask. The mask has a proprietary anti-fog film that takes all the hard work out of keeping your mask fog-free. The replaceable film prevents your mask from fogging, taking away all the hassle and stress of preparing your mask for a dive.
Perfect your clearing techniques
Cast your mind back to your open water course, and you will remember learning to clear your mask. Typically while kneeling, you press on the top of your mask with your fingertips while exhaling through your nose. This traps the exhaled air in the top of the mask, displacing the water from the mask by pushing it out of the bottom. This is great if you swim around in the vertical position (as if you were kneeling or standing), however, we swim around horizontally most of the time, making this technique ineffective without further modification.
When horizontal, the top of your mask is no longer the highest point, and exhaling through your nose will not displace the water out of your mask. Instead, the water will sit against the glass, and the air simply escapes from the mask skirt around your face. To make your mask clearing while you swim around easy and effortless, you need to use your neck muscles.
As you swim around, crane your neck slightly, looking towards the surface. If you have chosen your mask wisely and it fits well, you don’t even need to use both hands to clear your mask. Use a couple of fingers to press on the top of your mask above the middle of your brow. Now gently exhale through your nose, and your mask should clear without much trouble and without the need to interrupt your dive; change your body position, clear your mask, then return to a horizontal diving position.
One of the biggest advantages of mastering your clearing techniques is that it minimizes your movement in the water. This reduced movement reduces the amount of Carbon Dioxide you produce, thus reducing the need to flush it out, which keeps your breathing slow and controlled, improving your air consumption.
A Slap Strap & Snorkel make a world of difference
If you have a rummage through the dive bags of most dive professionals (with permission, of course), you will see that even though they have a wide range of mask brands and types, virtually all will have something in common, a Slap Strap!
A mask Slap Strap is a neoprene covering that fits over the traditional silicone mask strap. It serves multiple purposes, including keeping them in the proper position, preventing them from crossing over and becoming entangled. More importantly, the slap strap prevents hair (especially longer hair) from becoming entangled in the silicone strap. Slap straps allow you to slide your mask on and off your head without the risk of entanglement.
While the best option for dealing with long hair when diving is to wear a hood, the Slap Strap is a close second. However, if you choose not to wear a hood, then sometimes the clips securing the mask strap to the mask frame will regularly become entangled in the hair around your temples. To deal with this, use some tape (a wide range of suitable options from duct to silicone tape) to cover up the buckles, so they don’t keep catching your hair.
While a snorkel should be part of every divers kit and are perfect when you are on the surface before or after every dive, they are not always the most hydrodynamic of things. With a strong current while diving, a snorkel can be a pain since it can catch the current like a flag and vibrate, knocking against the side of your head or, even worse, causing continuous minor leaks. This is why many professionals use a folding snorkel with a quick attachment clip. On the surface, they take it out, attach it to their mask and use it; once underwater, it is quickly removed from the mask, folded up, and placed in a BCD or wetsuit pocket.
Post Dive Routine
Developing an excellent post-dive maintenance routine is key to keeping your diving mask in top shape and increasing its longevity. Rinsing your mask with fresh water is essential after every dive (especially in saltwater) since it stops salt crystals from forming. Salt can damage your lenses and degrade the mask skirt reducing the life of your mask and can even start to cause leaks as the skirt becomes frayed and develops tiny tears reducing the effectiveness of its seal.
Develop the habit of looking after your mask, and it will look after you in the long run! A good post-dive routine will give you many years of fog-free, leak-free, and fun trouble-free diving.
