The age-old problem: mask fogs up!

[Nogard13]

Ok guys, don't be too rough on me here. I'm a very new diver and I'm actually not certified yet (only done the classes and pool). Anywho, I have a problem with my mask fogging up. It seems that, no matter how hard I try, some air still escapes my nose, especially when swallowing. As a result, I've become very good at allowing water to trickle into the mask, thus defogging it, and then clearing it. I'd almost say I'm becoming an expert, lol.

Anywho, other than practice and clearing the mask, is there anything I can use to prevent it from fogging up every 5-10 mins? I've tried some of the "anti-fog" stuff that our instructor had but it didn't work. She suggested I try baby shampoo, which I will try next, but I was wondering if anyone else had some advice.

Thanks guys!

 

[SelkieDVM]

I just tried the baby shampoo thing last night and it worked great. I added just enough water so it would coat the mask without having to smear it around with a finger, dumped out the excess, and let it dry. No problems with fogging whatsoever during my 1.5 hour pool dive.

 

[deltat]

Make sure you are applying the anti fog correctly.

1) I only use Sea Drops
2) Put a few drops on the inside of each lens and spread with your finger until you cover the entire lens surface. Put a drop on the outside of each lens and rub around.
3) Quickly dip the ENTIRE mask in water once for a few seconds and pull it out.
4) Put the mask right on and never let the inside touch the water.

Works for me every time. The key is that once you put on the anti-fog the mask should only be dunked once and then put right on.

 

[Zoomer]

First, clean your mask thoroughly, they make a mask scrub or you can use a non-abrasive tooth paste. Second thing, put on your mask defog (I like 500 psi) FIRST and let it dry while you are putting on your other gear. When you are about ready to put you mask on and jump in, rinse the inside a little with fresh water (do not scrub or rub the inside where the defog is) and you should be fog free for the dive.

 

[TekDiveGirl]

Good old-fashioned spit! With you all the time free and easy to use! Works just as well as commercial defog without the expense!

 

[ClayJar]

New masks fog up. That's about the sum of it.

Seriously, though, just give it another scrubbing, and defog it again. I'd actually recommend not using baby shampoo until you're certified. It rinses off too easily, and since you'll be flooding your mask routinely on your checkout, the scuba defogs are a nice little assist. (Spit also rinses off far too easily when you're doing mask clears, but on the other hand, you can pop your mask off and give the inside of the lens a good licking even while you're down on a dive, so it's nice to know. Still, you can't use it as wetsuit wash like you can use baby shampoo.)

Anyway, every mask I've had has been a fogger at first, but it's not too many dives before they get better. Knowing the "trickle-and-swish" method of defogging will serve you well when you get fogged for no good reason (it happens sometimes).

Oh, and the key thing with defog (straight baby shampoo or commercial products) is to put it on as thin a coat as you can, rub it *hard* into the lens with your thumbs (a clean defogged lens is a happy defogged lens), and rinse as little as possible (just enough to have a clear lens). If you see everyone applying defog and then tossing their masks into a bucket on the boat, don't be like them. Just splash a little water into the mask. (Why you'd add defog and then soak your mask to get it all off has never made sense to me. Thankfully for them, there is so much defog in the bucket that the "water" ends up being halfway decent defog. )

 

[diver 85]

Good old-fashioned spit! With you all the time free and easy to use! Works just as well as commercial defog without the expense!

Ah...my kinda girl.......and btw the thicker the better..........

 

[robint]

it sounds like to me you never did the initial Toothpaste Scrub! Right? The issue is that when all scuba masks are made they are coated with a thin film to keep them from molding. This is because all masks go out to dive shops and sit on shelves in humid climates and mold can grow easily. So, in order to fight this, lenses are coated with this thin film. To get the film off you need to clean them with toothpaste or a commercial mask scrub sold at some dive shops. Do this in your bathroom at home 2-3 times using non-abrasive tooth paste, not a gel.
If done correctly you will never have to do it again --- just use your defog as directed. I like SeaDrops, my husband likes 500psi, but whatever brand you like. Don't use spit, your mouth is full of bacteria which can get in your eyes and cause problems.

When you bought your mask, the store clerk should have explained all of this to you. If not, the instructor should have.

robin

 

[dboddy]

All of these posts pretty much cover the basics of mask prep, so I have nothing to add to that. The other side of the equation can be face prep. Fogging is simply caused by moisture in your mask condensing on the colder glass. Getting ready for a dive can really overheat your body. Part of my regular routine is that as soon as I get in the water, I remove my mask and stick my head below the surface for a minute or so while breathing off my reg. This can actually benefit you in a couple of ways. First you are cooling the skin of your face and bringing it closer to the temp of the water. Secondly...if the water is cool, this can actually help slow your heart rate a bit and get you in a more relaxed condition. Between proper mask prep and this routine, I rarely fog anymore. The type of diving I enjoy allows me to easily do this, I realize that some conditions would make this a more difficult task. Just my 2 cents!

Dave

 

[Al Mialkovsky]

First, clean your mask thoroughly, they make a mask scrub or you can use a non-abrasive tooth paste. .

This is the key, if it's a new mask it needs to be cleaned or no de-fog works.