Its one of the major part of the scuba diving sports , but has been a favorite debate subjects…
some would even go to war ! defending what they feel is the best type of FINS … or MASK.
There are generally 3 Types of MASK in my point of view. Please dont flam me if you dont like my selections hehehe.
There are for MASK, FRAMED MASK, FRAME LESS MASK and PARA MASK.
FRAME LESS MASK.
The reason why its frame less is becos as you can see the plastic or rubber is moulded around the glass part of the mask. This in turn gives it a lower profile. The reason for my choice is the closer the glass is to the face of the user, generally you can get more viewable area hehe, think about tunnel vision.
Since if it was a framed mask, its plastic frame would be thicker, you will experience less field of vision. Also the lower the amount of air between your face and the mask, the less chances you can feel the suck out effect. This is due to the air been compressed by the water around you when you go deeper into the sea. That can be usually balanced out by blowing a little air out of your noses when you fee; the face squeeze hehe.
Now there are 2 points when you are buying and preparing a mask.
See the picture above. This is how you been testing a mask when you look right into it. Now without putting the rubber band around and over your head just lightly place the mask over your nose and eyes.
Next just inhale slightly through your nose and let go of the mask while your head is looking straight down. If the mask is a good fit on your face profile or type , it should be able to stay in place on your face and wont drop off by itself after 20 secs. If it has a bad fit around your face, the air around you will seep into the mask and cause it to slowly peel off. Thats the simplest rules to test the fitting of the mask on your face.
Now to prepare the new mask for use, its a bit more tricky, some might ask you to just put tooth paste on the inside of the mask glass parts and leave over night and wash it off with a tooth brush and running water.
The reason is all new mask comes with some kind of chemical coating on the inside of the glass part of a mask. Its a factory default. Therefore you need to peel or wash off that layer to prevent the mask from foggin easily while using it underwater.
What I learned is a bit more effective but needs a steady hand. I would prepare my mask by using a small lighter, the type you can buy off the tobacco or cigarette counters. Then slowly warm the inside of the glass part surface, as you do that you can clearly see the heat from the small flam slowly but surely burning off and evaporating off the chemical coatings with all new Mask. Once you got to heat off all the glass surface inside the mask, you maybe leave it to cool for 10 mins and then wash off the inside with tap water.
Now all you need to do is to spit saliva into it and wash it off with sea water and you are guaranteed clear vision through out a 1 hour dive hehehe . Of cos some more civilized divers unlike myself would still prefer to use commercial anti fog products on the inside of the treated mask glass part instead hahahaha.
Thanks for reading this blog and take care.
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