>> Archives

Gearmiester answers your questions about MASKS...

"What You Get is What You See" (Part 2)

Last month we talked about getting a mask that fits so water stays out. This month, we’ll discuss how designers have improved our visibility through the mask.

Old school. If you remember back to the days of Sea Hunt and before, you’ve probably seen the large round or oval single-pane window perched far away from the face on a large opaque rubber skirt. This mask was a great development in diving, but it was a lot like looking through the cardboard tube from a roll of paper towels – there was very limited peripheral vision in any direction. With the advent of more modern technology and materials, masks have become much smaller, more comfortable, and longer lasting..

Better living through silicone. Skirts are now made of silicone which is more flexible and longer lasting than rubber. But there are different grades of silicone. Feel the skirts - especially near the edge - of various masks in different price ranges and you’ll feel the difference in thickness and suppleness. In general, a thinner and more supple skirt means a more comfortable and better fitting mask. Many of the new silicone materials are even strong enough to allow the buckles to be attached directly to the
skirt - this reduces volume and weight.

Color of the skirt. This is a matter of personal preference. Clear or lightly colored silicone allows some peripheral vision as light and shapes can be distinguished so it’s less like looking through a tunnel. However, many photographers prefer a completely opaque skirt to block out distracting light while they look through the camera viewfinder.

Windows on the (underwater) world. The glass in a dive mask is called the window and they come in MANY designs. How to choose? In a nutshell, a smaller volume mask with the window closer to the face is better.

Side vision Some masks have side windows which increase sideways visibility but are also bigger in size and volume. Downside? Increased volume is filled with air and can make the mask feel like it’s trying to float off your head. Increased size creates drag when you’re swimming in the water, especially in a current. Fortunately, the clear silicone skirt achieves the same effect with a smaller size.

Up and down visibility Designers use various lens shapes and different tilts in the frame in order to improve vision in the up and down axis. It’s a matter of personal preference. But in general, the closer the lens is to your face, the better your peripheral vision.

One pane or two? Front windows come in single pane or double pane. Again, a matter of personal preference. Just make sure that the nose piece and center eye piece frames aren’t in your field of view.

"Optical delusions". Check for distortion in the front windows. To do this, hold the mask 6-8 inches (12-18 cm) away from your eyes and look through it while rotating it side to side. Objects shouldn’t move around or get wavy when looking through a mask with high quality optics.

If you need glasses and find a mask you really love, you can get corrective lenses for most masks that replace the standard window. For those of us getting older and needing bifocals, you can have prescription bifocal lenses bonded onto your mask to allow you to see up close.

Just remember...-  your mask has to fit you or it will leak. Thinner, more supple silicone skirts usually fit better and are more comfortable. The color and opaqueness of the skirt as well as the design of the window is mainly a matter of personal preference. In general, the smaller the mask and the closer the window sits to your face, the more you’ll be able to see.

Still confused?  A good dive shop should let you try on a variety of masks. They can also help you find the one that fits you best and decide which features you want.