Home
  FAQs
  Gallery
  Calendar
  Contact Staff
  The Rec Report
  Rec Tec Survey

  Instruction
     Classes
     Student Kudos
     E-Learning
  Sales
     Gear
  Service
     Services
  Trips
     Dive Trips
     Travel Deals
  Local Information
     Dive Sites
     Becky's Dive bLog
     Shamus Sightings!

Gear: Masks

Shamus' Patented Mask Fitting Technique

• First off, ensure that the mask you are contemplating is made of tempered glass. We do not want our mask to fail under the increasing water pressure.
• Secondly, you want to make sure that the skirt of the mask (see illustration) is made of silicone. The higher quality the silicone, the more comfortable the mask will be and the longer it will last.
• Ensure that the mask will seal on your face by placing the mask on your face (without using the strap) and gently 'sniffing.' The mask should stay in place as long as you are inhaling.
• Test the fit by gently turning your head from side to side, it should remain in place.
• Make sure that you cannot feel any air coming into or out of the mask.
• Look in a mirror and make sure that the skirt isn't catching your hairline or your eyebrows. Get someone to help with this step, it makes it easier.

So far, so good? Now it's time to get wet. Grab your swimsuit, a towel, and the mask and head for the pool.

• You should adjust the mask strap so that the mask fits snugly enough that it will not fall off your face while walking, but loosely enough not to put pressure on your face. If you have a ring around your face when you take the mask off, it is too tight. You also might want to note that masks that are too tight will leak, even if they fit well. Never make your mask more tight than it has to be.
• Get a snorkel, regulator or even just a mouthpiece. You'll want to make sure that your facial shape is changed the way it will be on scuba.
• Go for a few quick snorkel dives to make sure the mask doesn't leak.
• Make sure that you can easily reach your nose through the nose pocket to clear your ears.
• Try another mask. This one may be great, but the next one may be fantastic. So try one more.

Other things to consider:

• Lower volume masks have less water to clear than higher volume masks.
• A mustache or beard will cause your mask to leak.
• If you have longer hair, you might want to try a neoprene strap (such as the Slap Strap) that will not pull your hair.
• Neoprene snorkle keepers will help from pulling hair as well.
• Purge masks clear by looking down, not up.
• The valve in purge masks are very often non-repairable, so if you buy one, be gentle with it.
• If you wear contacts, keep your eyes closed when practicing mask clearing.

Care and feeding:

• When you first get your mask, scrub the inside lenses with Sea Buff or Scrub mask cleaner. Rinse it in fresh water, then clean it again two more times. You're trying to clean off the silicone film the mask ships with. When you think you have it all off, clean it one more time. Failing to clean the mask thoroughly will cause the mask to fog.
• Use a quality commercial defog solution to keep your mask from fogging. Sea Gold, 500 PSI and Spit are all good choices. Using your own spit can cause eye infections.
• Rinse your mask off in clean, fresh water after every dive.
• Keep your mask in its box or stuffed in a fin pocket to help keep it from being scratched or broken in transit.
• Carry an extra mask strap in your save-a-dive kit.