Scuba diving masks are one of the simplest yet most important pieces of scuba equipment you will own and have the ability to make or break a dive. A great mask is one that offers good visibility with a wide field of vision, is comfortable, and can easily allow you to equalize and clear water when required. A few other things to keep in mind when choosing your mask;
What to look for
The silicone skirt – not all masks come with the option but most will offer the choice of a dark or transparent skirting. In the end it is personal preference, but most divers will opt for the darker or black silicone to help reduce glare. The quality of the silicone will also be a deciding factor in how the mask sits on your face and ultimately its likelihood of leaking.
The buckles – required for keeping your mask and head band connected and suitably fastened to your face. Look for a simple to use and robust design. Some buckles are built into the mask itself and a failure of one of these items can be a terminal event. If you are diving with gloves regularly then you want to make sure you can operated the buckles and straps easily still.
As mentioned in buying your own equipment, scuba diving masks are designed differently to snorkeling masks. One of the stand out differences is that the lenses on scuba masks now predominantly use tempered glass. Tempered glass is strong and durable, and in the event of a failure the glass will hold together while breaking into lots of small pieces as opposed to large shards.
Fogging
A final note on lenses – One of the biggest complaints for people buying a new mask seems to be fogging. If you are buying from a dive shop then the staff should have given you the heads up on this but it is all too common to see complaints of fogging on new masks especially from people that have bought online. New masks usually need to be cleaned 3 or 4 times prior to being used otherwise fogging can be a problem. There are a bunch of dedicated products out there to assist with preparing and maintaining your mask, as well as the old spit and toothpaste methods. It is not advised to use any abrasive products on your mask unless the product is specifically designed for this purpose.
A good mask doesn’t need to cost you an arm and a leg and so, we have rounded up what we think are the 5 best value scuba masks on the market for recreational divers.
Cressi F1
The Cressi F1 is a single lens, low profile frameless mask. The low volume provides a wide field of view whilst making clearing water much easier. The single lens frameless design reduces pressure points on the face particularly around the bridge of the nose and forehead. Additionally as the lens is built into the silicone skirting, there is less mask structure for water pressure to be applied on during deeper dives. The mask represents excellent value for quality. Check price here.
Tusa Freedom Ceos
Tusa’s Freedom Ceos is one of the best selling twin lens scuba diving masks on the market. It incorporates Tusa’s unique Freedom technology in order to create a superior fit including dimpled surfaces on the skirt to improve comfort and skin surface contact. The mask also incorporates ridges and variable silicone thickness to help combat leakage due to movement around the face as a result of using a snorkel or regulator as well as depth pressure. Prescription lenses are available for this particular mask. Check price here.
Scubapro Frameless
The original frameless diving mask has been around for years, and has a reputation as a reliable piece of kit amongst both recreational and professional divers. Its single lens frameless design affords it the benefits typical to any low profile and volume mask. With its compact design, great visibility and double edge silicone seal, this mask is popular for a reason! Check price here.
Cressi Matrix
Cressi’s Matrix is one of the more popular dual lens masks you can buy. The low profile design like the F1, keeps the lens close to the face increasing the visibility field whilst reducing volume, making masking clearing more efficient. The tilted and inverted tear drop lenses in conjunction with a refined frame offer great peripheral vision. The soft silicone skirt design makes the mask feel comfortable and light on the face. A good all rounder in terms of fit, visibility, quality and price. Check Price here.
Mares X Vision
The X Vision is mid volume dual lens mask boasting a very wide field of view. Using two different types of silicone for the frame and skirt, the combined outcome is a slightly more flexible mask that moulds around more face shapes to provide a better seal as well as reducing pressure points at depth. Mares have also designed this mask to be more streamlined meaning less drag and greater efficiency underwater. This mask can also be ordered with corrective lenses. Check price here.