The age-old problem: mask fogs up!

[psychocabbage]

I have never had this issue..
My wife on occassion has this issue and what she does is allow a tiny amount of water in that she will swish around to wipe the lens on the inside..

I will say that her mask was cleaned properly and the defog was also applied properly..
what I cannot control is her breathing out her nose.

I, for some odd set of luck and genes, do not breate out my nose when I have my mask on unless i want to break the tension..

 

[perdidochas]

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!

Have you cleaned the mask thoroughly with toothpaste? Most masks have a thin film of some kind of stuff, and until that stuff is removed, the mask will frequently fog up.

Have you tried spit?

 

[Garrobo]

The only sure way that I know to keep a mask from fogging is to blow a big hocker into it and rub it around. Then put it on without rinsing it. Works for me every time.

 

[KrisB]

The only sure way that I know to keep a mask from fogging is to blow a big hocker into it and rub it around. Then put it on without rinsing it. Works for me every time.

Man... no rinse after a big hocker?

No matter what product I use (SeaDrops, "Spit" (yes, it's a defog brand), toothpaste or saliva), it gets a quick rinse -- otherwise the vision is rather distorted.

One thing to keep in mind is that the initial toothpaste scrub is essential to get the manufacturing by-product off the lens. This film is not put there for any reason -- it just ends up as the silicone of the skirt cures.

The easiest way to do this is to put a bit of toothpaste in the mask (just a dab -- enough to spread around, but not so much that there's more than a thin layer), then sit in front of the TV, massaging it into the lens with one thumb (holding the mask with the other hand) until your thumb's sore. Switch hands. Once the second thumb is sore, rinse out the mask, and repeat.

After this, make sure you defog using some method already mentioned and see if it still fogs. If it does, you can consider trying toothpaste as your defog product before each dive for a little while. You don't want to do this too many times, otherwise you'll get crusty toothpaste in the corners of your mask... but sometimes the mask film is just a little too stubborn and this will help that issue.

As for products to use: I like the "Spit" brand -- it's thick (a little too thick -- I add a couple drops of tropical-smelling liquor like Malibu rum to thin it) -- a defog treatment of this will last as many mask clears as I've ever had to demonstrate for students on a dive. SeaDrops are good, but don't last as long as "Spit" or SeaGold (SeaGold is a little more goopy than SeaDrops, but made by the same manufacturer). Baby shampoo works -- many dilute it 50/50 with water and put in a spray bottle. Personally, I have troubles with the scent of baby shampoo.

Basically, once the initial toothpaste treatment is done, you can use any product that will reduce the surface tension of the lens so that water won't form fog.

 

[drbill]

I can't explain it, but I never have a problem with mask fogging. All I use is some of my spit before I giant stride. It seems to work just great. Want me to bottle some and send it to you?

 

[Nogard13]

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

When we bought our masks, the guy at the shop told my wife to clean hers with toothpaste but told me to just use a mild soap, something about the lens, but I don't remember. Maybe I'll try the toothpaste when I get to Vegas (where the mask is right now) and give it a try in the pool.

Thanks guys!

 

[KrisB]

One final thing -- if none of this works, it could just be that your face runs hot. Before donning your mask, rinse your face under cool water (or jump in the water if it's a boat dive) to cool down your face. This will reduce the temperature difference between inside and outside the mask and should help the fogging issue.

 

[diver 85]

The only sure way that I know to keep a mask from fogging is to blow a big hocker into it and rub it around. Then put it on without rinsing it. Works for me every time.

Rinsing will not harm the desired end result wanted ie no fogging......

 

[Theunis]

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.

I agree with that. Baby shampoo works!! I wash my mask with baby shampoo in the morning before my dive and also do the spitting thing. I used baby shampoo for many years.

 

[Garrobo]

As far as rinsing the lense after spitting in it, the spit came out of your mouth so it's clean as far as you are concerned and rinsing it defeats the whole purpose of it.