MASKS

Diving face masks are crucial to the well being of the sport. It is most important that the mask fits properly. There are several points to look for when purchasing a face mask:

To make sure the seal against the face is correct, one should look straight up, place the mask on the face with the strap out of the way, let go of the mask with the hands, and then suck in through the nose. If the mask is drawn to the face, and can be held there by suction, it fits!
Moustaches commonly interfere with the fit. If they are bushy and there is no skin above them under the nose, air will leak through the hair and cause the mask to leak. Some divers shave the extreme upper part of the moustache. Some apply silicone grease to the hair. Some shave the entire thing off.
Once the mask fits properly using the method described above, it is necessary to determine whether the size is correct. It would be hard to get a mask that is too large to fit. If you do use a mask that is too large, the strap would have to be so tight the mask will leave a red ring around the face. It is easy to get a mask that is too small to fit. If the mask is too small the side vision will be reduced. So, you want to get a mask that allows you to see the most from side to side. And, don't count on those side plates found on some masks. When you look through a side plate under water the distortion is so great things are not seen where they really are.
Another thing to look for is the volume of the mask. Low volume masks are ones that get your eyes close to the glass. High volume masks have a lot of room in them. For the most part, low volume masks offer the greatest vision from side to side. And, they are easier to clear of water. Low volume masks may not fit large faces.
There are two places masks may caused irritation. The bridge of the nose and the skin directly under the nose. When you try on a mask be sure it does not hit the bridge of the nose (too low a volume), and does not feel the least bit uncomfortable under the nose. A little discomfort in the store will grow to a large pain after a lot of skin or scuba diving.
Buy silicone, not rubber. The material will last almost indefinitely. Rubber is rotted by oil. The oil on a diver's face will cause the mask to be useless after a few seasons. Also, the "clear" silicone masks allow more light to penetrate leading to less tunnel vision.
There are two disadvantages with silicone:
- 1. Silicone will absorb colors from objects touching it. For example, if you attach a rubber snorkel or snorkel keeper to the silicone strap of the mask, the black color will slowly be absorbed into the strap making it look permanently soiled.
- 2. If mold begins to grow on any silicone material it will embed itself in the material. Even if the mold is killed, the remnants of it may permanently stain the silicone making it very unsightly. Deep-Six has soaked silicone mouthpieces in pure Clorox for days. The mold has been killed but the unsightly color still remained. The mouthpiece was sanitary but it sure didn't look that way!
Before the first dive with a new mask it should be cleaned of a film left from the manufacturing process that will cause fogging problems underwater. The only way Deep-Six knows to remove this film is with a toothbrush and toothpaste. A vigorous brushing right after purchase is recommended. Don't confuse this first fogging problem with the usual fogging that divers experience on every dive unless they coat the lense with an anti-fogging compound or spit (that is lightly rinsed off) just prior to the dive. DO NOT do this to the Seavision mask! It will destroy the antifog on the lense.
Forget buying a mask with a small purge valve. They are hard to use and may cut down on the vision.
There are masks that allow the introduction of prescription lenses for a very reasonable cost.

MASK INFORMATION

THE SEAVISION MASK from Deep-Six

The SeaVision 2000 Series is the best mask we have ever offered to you. It is low volume, has an extremely flexible skirt, and is super-comfortable. The skirt colors are clear or black. The trim colors are black, blue, yellow, purple, pink, or green. In the Reef Color masks the colors are blue, purple, smoke, and pink.

All SeaVision masks have a choice of 3 lenses: Clear, color-correcting, or MaxSeaVision(tm). Prescription lenses are also available.

In the pictures you will see some masks with clear, yellow, or magenta lenses. The magenta ones are the color-correcting and the yellow ones are the MaxSeaVision(tm).

The MaxSeaVision(tm) filtered lenses are used in low-light situations such as lakes, quarries, caves, rivers, and night diving. This yellow lens helps to optimize available light and help improve visibility at the same time. Wreck and tech divers find this lens a very popular option.

As divers know, colors are lost as one goes deeper. Not so with this mask equipped with the color-correcting lens. The special patented lens actually restores colors making what you see truly beautiful.