Black vs. clear silicone mask

[fnfalman]

I have both clear and black skirted masks and I use them interchangeably. I'm not a photographer so I guess the difference in vision doesn't do much for me. Frankly, I don't notice any difference at all. But the black mask, combined with the Dive Rite TransPac BCD makes me feel like I'm all badass and techie or something.

 

[ligersandtions]

I prefer a mask with a black skirt. This is really only because it will not turn yellow and look gross. I have never used a mask with a clear skirt, so I can't speak to its advantages....but for me, I didn't want a mask to get yellow and look old and gross.

 

[highdesert]

I went from a clear skirt to a black one after getting some dive experience and reading threads similar to this one. I keep the clear one as a backup, and will use it occasionally just to see that it's still in good shape. I've decided now that, back when I dove the clear one all the time, I only had a "perception" that I could see more and have more awareness of things around me. The only time it really is more useful, IMHO, is when your night dive buddy tries to get your attention from somewhere to the side of you. Their light will penetrate the skirt, causing you to respond to the source. Otherwise, all of the reasons posted above for a black skirt are correct, at least for me.

 

[DiveMaven]

I've found that if after dive trips I thoroughly clean then rub a bit of food grade silicone gel on the clear skirts that they don't yellow or stiffen up. My husband's clear skirted mask is almost 5 years old, has no yellowing and is still soft and supple.

Of course because it is stored with silicone on it, I have to toothpaste scrub and run it through the dishwasher (no dry cycle) prior to dive trips, or the glass tends to fog up around the edges where the silicone hit it.

 

[billsreef]

My clear silcone mask skirt is 15 years old, still nice a supple, and still hasn't turned a nasty yellow. All it gets is rinsed off well and dried in the shade. My old black skirt mask was from the days of the old black rubber, that stuff did get brittle after a few years. In terms of preference of black vs. clear, I've never noticed a substantial enough difference to have a preference.

 

[NudeDiver]

Does it have to be black? What about some other opaque colour - like gray or silver?

 

[eponym]

I'm thinking of buying a new cressi big eye evo mask. I currently have a clear silicone skirt type mask. Is there any reason or advantage to the black silicone over the clear silicone mask? I'm a warm water recreational diver and a novice.

Consider whether you will ever lose (drop) your mask. I use the same mask (Cressi Bigeye) in clear frame/clear skirt to teach. I love it for the visibility it affords. I don't use it on challenging dives (cold, deep, dark, wreck) because I don't think it could be found again if I lost it. On those dives I wear a lower-volume black frame/black skirt mask.

You can get around the visibility issue if you add a colored soft strap, something to make it visible when it's lying on the sand bottom . . .

-Bryan

 

[ozziworld]

Suggest you try out both black and clear skirts in the Dive Shop. Wear the masks and look at the room with the window or light source behind you or at an angle behind you. You will then notice the big difference in glare.

The window approximates where the sun will be in relation to the mask face which will be somewhere behind you ears.

While your at it, cup your hands around the clear mask and you will see the glare disappear. This is basically the same effect an opaque or black mask has.

The brightness in the clear masks does not enhance you vision. It only feels bright and airy. If you wanted to seriously view something, opaque or black is the way to go.

 

[Pacific Taco]

I was using a Sherwood Oracle for my first few months of diving, it was clear with blue frames. I liked the fit and shape but when I tried on the Atomic Frameless I was sold! I took the Atomic in black and really like the "feel" of the black sides, it does allow focus and the improved contrast is noticeable. Probably another thread (or already discussed to death) but frameless vs framed? To me it was no comparison but most people still rock two lenses...

 

[Aquabear]

personal preference, try em on and see what you like.