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Herr Gearmiester sez "Masks - What you Get is what you See"

Last month we talked about the lowly snorkel and what a useful device it really is. This month, let’s talk about masks and how they help us see under water.

Why wear a mask? "Salt water burns and I can’t see a thing." Water is denser than air and therefore effects the transmission of light. So the human eye, being developed for seeing through air, doesn’t do very well under water. The development of the diving mask changed all that. Voila! By adding a layer of air between the eye and the water, we land-based humans see much better than without a mask.

Building the perfect mask. For a mask to work well for the diver or snorkeler, it really needs to do just three things – adapt to water pressure, keep the water out, provide visibility. Let’s tackle the first two.

To adapt to water pressure, a diving or snorkeling mask must contain the diver’s nose. Otherwise, the water pressure compresses the air in the mask causing mask squeeze. It’s not life threatening, but can certainly be uncomfortable and leave some nasty bruises on the diver/snorkelers face. As you descend, simply exhale a little air into the mask through your nose - problem solved.

As for keeping water out of the mask, it’s a lot like the snorkel. There’s no such thing as a completely dry mask (other than certain full-face masks). All masks will leak a little under certain conditions – like when you’re having fun! In my observation, a big smile under water will usually let a small amount of water in though your smile creases. Hey, it’s a small price to pay for whatever made you smile. But a mask that  leaks constantly is an entirely different matter – it can ruin an otherwise terrific aquatic adventure.

Fit, fit, fit. To keep the water out, a mask must fit the individual face. That should be the number one criteria in selecting a mask. No matter how cool it looks, if it doesn’t fit, it’s going to leak. To see if a mask is going to fit, hold the mask to your face without using the strap.  Now inhale gently through your nose. The mask should stay in place. If it falls away or you can hear or feel airflow around the edge of the mask, it doesn’t fit. Many manufactures make different size masks to fit a variety of faces - typically, a standard size, mid size, and kid size. Find one that fits you.

Sounds simple enough, but, as you know, there’re many different masks hanging on the walls of a dive shop.

Besides the fit, here’s a couple of other things to look for in a quality mask that will also help keep water out. A nice soft silicone material, usually feathered thinner toward the edge, will be more comfortable and allow the mask to better conform to your face. Also, look for two seals on the mask - the edge of the skirt and an inner seal.

Next month, we’ll discuss the third part of the perfect mask – visibility – and show how mask design can “improve your view” of the underwater world.