Top Mistakes Snorkelers & Divers Make When Choosing a Scuba Diving Mask

When it comes to buying a diving or snorkeling mask there are several large pitfalls in your way. Fall into one of them, and you are destined for frustrating leaky dives and snorkeling sessions. On the other hand, avoiding these pitfalls means you will end up with hours of glorious dives, where you do not have to worry about your leaky mask. All you need to focus on is the marine life, and getting that perfect picture from your Smartphone in its underwater housing.

Choosing the cheapest mask

"Buy cheap, buy twice" is an old saying, and it has never been truer than when it comes to buying scuba diving masks, or freediving masks, for that matter. On the one hand, it is totally understandable to try and test the waters by dipping your toe in at the cheaper end of the mask spectrum before committing to a more expensive “keeper” mask.

Sadly, opting for the cheapest scuba diving mask will, more often than not, end in frustration, as the mask fails to meet your expectations. Poor fit, low-quality materials, straps that snap, the list of problems with a cheap mask is virtually endless. One of the biggest challenges you will face is constant fogging. This will primarily be due to the plastic lens. While high-quality masks have tempered glass, cheaper masks have a plastic lens that is extremely difficult to keep fog-free, even for dive professionals.

Scuba Mask Tempered Glass Vs. Plastic

Overall, you want to avoid plastic lenses at all costs. Key differences between tempered glass and plastic lenses are as follows:

Durability and scratch resistance: Tempered glass is significantly more scratch-resistant and holds up better than plastic, which scratches easily and wears quickly.

Shatter behavior and safety: Tempered glass is engineered to break into blunt fragments that tend to remain bonded together, reducing injury risk. Plastic won’t shatter the same way, but can crack, leaving some sharp edges.

Optical clarity and distortion: Glass offers clearer, more stable optics with less light bending and distortion; overall, plastic offers a lower image quality and experience.

Tendency to Fog: Glass is typically less prone to fogging and retains anti-fog treatments longer, while plastic lenses often fog quicker despite repeated application of anti-fog products.

Buying a scuba mask that Doesn’t Fit Properly

Buying a mask purely on a recommendation is a surefire way to leave you deeply unhappy and regretting your purchase. The mask may look great on your instructor's face, or you may have seen many tec divers wearing it, but that does not guarantee it will be a good fit for you.

If you are going to buy a mask online, a great way to go is to find a friend with the same model you are interested in and try it on. If it fits well, you are safe to order it online. So how do you make sure the mask is a good fit?

The Scuba Diving Mask Suction Fit Test

The suction fit is one of the oldest in diving and is the only way to ensure your mask fits your face perfectly. Fortunately, the scuba mask suction test is very easy to perform and generally takes less than a minute. You do the suction fit test as follows:

• Place the mask strap over the front of the mask.

• Put the mask on your face, and ensure there is no facial or head hair caught under the skirt.

• Inhale slowly through your nose. At this point, you should start to feel a vacuum inside the mask, and it should be sticking to your face. Hold your breath and don’t exhale through your nose.

• Remove your hands from the mask. If it fits correctly, it should be held to your face solely by the vacuum you have created. If the mask falls off your face, it does not fit properly because it cannot hold a vacuum.

One thing to keep in mind is that facial hair and long hair can be very problematic when testing and using a mask. So, you always need to ensure there's no hair trapped under your mask skirt. If not, even the most perfectly fitting mask will leak or fail the suction test.

Keeping a Leaky Scuba Diving Mask in The Hope it will “bed in”

Ask any dive instructor or dive guide if they have seen a diver swimming around with a little water sloshing around their mask. They will laugh and confirm that this is quite common. Why? Well, many beginners treat their diving masks like a new pair of shoes that they can wear in, and that the mask will eventually bed in!

Nothing can be further from the truth! If your mask leaks slightly on day one and the general shape of your face never changes, it will leak slightly on day one thousand and day ten thousand! It will never stop leaking.

One thing to keep in mind is that tightening your strap more and more may reduce the leaking slightly, but will leave you with a stunning mask skirt outline embossed on your face, dive after dive.

Choosing Style over Substance!

Sometimes people overlook key deficiencies like fit and comfort because the mask they want looks “way cooler.” Again, a mask that doesn't work 100% of the time isn't worth your while, regardless of how good it looks on you. It is better to dive with something that fits you like a glove but looks like it was made with duct tape and positive thoughts, than the coolest special forces-inspired mask that is an awful fit, uncomfortable, or even has a host of other issues.  

Ignoring All The Small Factors

Sometimes a mask can pass the suction test with flying colors, but ultimately isn't the best one for you. This can come down to multiple factors, including:

• Discomfort from the shape and placement of the mask clips or strap, which means the mask is very uncomfortable.

• Choosing a mask with a nose pocket that does not fit too well makes equalization difficult.

• Selecting a framed mask when you need a bigger field of view, like those provided by frameless designs.

• Not researching your corrective lens options properly before buying a mask.

• Overlooking the effect of a center frame on your field of vision with dual-lens models.

• Choosing a high-volume mask when a low-volume mask would be easier to clear.

• Not taking into account how a mask will fit with your hood and regulator.

• Failing to consider how easy your snorkel will attach to your new mask.

• The million-dollar question: how easy do you find it to clear the new mask!
  

Choice is Key to Finding A Great Scuba Diving Mask

When it comes to finding the perfect mask for you, choice is key. That way, you can test a couple of options and dial in the perfect mask for you. That is why Tidal Sports has a wide range of masks for you to choose from.

If you are looking for a dual-lens mask, the Dual Lens Tidal Mask is a perfect choice. However, if, like many divers, you prefer a single-lens model, the Single Lens Tidal Mask is unbeatable for value, performance, and quality. If you are looking for the perfect all-round mask that is ideal for scuba, snorkeling, and free diving, the Aluma Pro Tidal Mask is an ideal option. Finally, if you are looking for the perfect freediving/spearfishing mask with the smallest volume, the new Tidal Glide Freediving Mask is your go-to choice.

One thing to keep in mind is that all Tidal Sports Masks come equipped with cutting-edge anti-fog technology. The anti-fog film applied to the inside of the lenses, combined with the anti-fog spray, provides a virtually guaranteed crystal-clear, fog-free dive every single time.