Smile line leaks...

[Jaan]

I recently bought an expensive prescription mask (unfortunately they didn’t support my usual mask for the lens swap). Tried it dry and it felt great, and even short dives are ok but after an hour it starts to progressively leak more and more, quite odd. Frustrating on those long shore dives to the point I had given up and gone back to my old mask. I will also try some of these tricks in the hopes of salvaging that investment. Thanks for sharing.

 

[buddhasummer]

B

Cannot find a mask that does not leak.
LDS suggests that it's leaking at my "smile lines" which are getting more pronounced the older I get.
If I pull on my cheeks while under water the mask no leak BUT can't swim around with my hands on my face the whole time.
Tried masks with larger skirt but that didn't do the trick.
Tried LDS and none of their options worked.
Desperate - anyone else out there had masks leak at the cheeks?
If so did you find a fix?
Make? Model?

Thnx - d

Botox

 

[Still Kicking]

Botox

Cheeseburgers!

 

[Ishkrbibbl]

B

Botox

Already asked a derm what Botox did? HaHa

 

[Ishkrbibbl]

It's counterintuitive but sometimes masks leak due to being overtightened, and thereby exaggering the laugh lines. Have you tried loosening the strap?

Typically it only needs enough tension to keep mask in place at surface.once you go under, a little water pressure will help it gently seal.

Might not work but worth a try.

cant get much looser

 

[DirtFish]

You can always use some Dow Corning 111 O-ring silicone lubricant. Just a small smear on the seal of the mask where your leak is and you're good. I used to use it when I had a large moustache and I never had a leak. My wife would use just a small smear on her mask to stop leaks near her temples. It is mask friendly and a small tube will last a long time. Every time we lend a smear to someone on a boat they are amazed at how well it works. The downside is that it can be a bit messy if you are not careful, but it definitely works.
You can find it on Amazon.

​

 

[dfad]

My two cents. I thought I have quite standard face, but it happens that it's no more that way as I'm close to age of 50. So the mask I purchased earlier this year leaked like a colander below 5-6 m because of my smile lines, and I had to find a new one.
I tried multiple options in the LDS, and three that fit well in a 'dry test' were XS Scuba Fusion (but not Fusion 3!), XS Scuba Cortez and Aqualung Reveal. Of those, Fusion gave me the best fit, so I got it, I have tested it at 12.5 m yesterday, and I'm really happy with the fit. Still I would like a bit lower volume but this might be my subjective opinion.

 

[Still Kicking]

My two cents. I thought I have quite standard face, but it happens that it's no more that way as I'm close to age of 50. So the mask I purchased earlier this year leaked like a colander below 5-6 m because of my smile lines, and I had to find a new one.
I tried multiple options in the LDS, and three that fit well in a 'dry test' were XS Scuba Fusion (but not Fusion 3!), XS Scuba Cortez and Aqualung Reveal. Of those, Fusion gave me the best fit, so I got it, I have tested it at 12.5 m yesterday, and I'm really happy with the fit. Still I would like a bit lower volume but this might be my subjective opinion.

Good call on not going with the Reveal -- the frames break on those way too easily.

 

[Badger7]

Would probably be best off with a low volume mask with a very flexible wide skirt that can easily make the bend around your temples and smooth things out a bit. See if anyone locally dives an Xdeep mask or similar that you can try out, one of many options that fit that description.

 

[FreqFlier]

I found that dual lens masks tend to leak less (probably cause they are more flexible?). I love my Cressi Big Eyes Evolution (Rx lenses are available too!). Few words from description:

This revolutionary mask is made from High Seal, a new material that offers extraordinary and unprecedented comfort.

Not only has this new High Seal silicone been chosen, with its exceptional softness and comfort, but the entire design of the skirt has followed new rules which allow a point of contact between the mask and the face that has a very open angle
Scuba Masks-Big Eyes Evolution