How to tell if Mask is rated for Scuba Diving?

[cloudflint]

So long as it has tempered glass, an enclosed nose and allows you to pinch your nose if necessary for equalising it should be suitable for SCUBA diving. The quality and design of your mask are mainly down to personal preference and how much money you want to spend.

 

[mdax]

I always have a backup mask on me, i'd never consider diving with a mask that i wasn't totally happy and confident with...especially to 100'.

 

[lox]

Thanks for all the tips my friends! Can't wait to hit the water!!

 

[lox]

O.K. so I go to the local dive shop and buy a good fitting and supposed good quality mask by Dive Star?

Now that I'm in Turks and Caicos diving I find that the mask leaks a bit, fogs easy even with anti fog gunk but worse of all find that it gives me a head ache on the fore head after wearing it. And this is even on relatively shallow dives of 30-40 feet. It's not too tight as I've loosened it. Tried a cheap resort mask ona couple dives to deeper depths and it was like night and day. All above issues did not happen?

Anyone have an explanation for this or experienced this? I know it's notmask sqeeze as I've breathed out my nose and taken it off to clear numerous times?

Any thoughts would be appreciated!

Thanks

P.S. The diving in T&C has been awesome! One more dive to get my AOW

 

[surfinusa555]

Quality means nothing if it doesn't fit right. Whether a mask is good or not is all about your own fit. Buy the same cheap model that you liked at the resort.

 

[danvolker]

O.K. so I go to the local dive shop and buy a good fitting and supposed good quality mask by Dive Star?

Now that I'm in Turks and Caicos diving I find that the mask leaks a bit, fogs easy even with anti fog gunk but worse of all find that it gives me a head ache on the fore head after wearing it. And this is even on relatively shallow dives of 30-40 feet. It's not too tight as I've loosened it. Tried a cheap resort mask ona couple dives to deeper depths and it was like night and day. All above issues did not happen?

Anyone have an explanation for this or experienced this? I know it's notmask sqeeze as I've breathed out my nose and taken it off to clear numerous times?

Any thoughts would be appreciated!

Thanks

P.S. The diving in T&C has been awesome! One more dive to get my AOW

Sounds like it does not fit your face...this is a big part of choosing the right mask for your self---differet masks fit different shapes of faces....if it does not fit the shape of your face, it will leak, and or be uncomfortable.
As to the fogging issue....masks in rental will have been used so much that the silicone film has probably worn off a long time ago, so the don't fog anymore....It is a manufacturing issue, most new masks now have this silicone overspray that will cause fogging until you get rid of it....scrubbing takes days or weeks....Using a bic lighter , putting the flame onto the inside glass for a few seconds all around the inside ( without buring or melting the mask body) works extremely well...then you scrub for a few moments, and no more fogging.

 

[rk288]

Hmm...not wanting to sound or seem impolite but if you can afford a dive trip to T&C I would buy my own reg and have it serviced as recommended by the mfr and pack it in my carry on luggage along with my computer that way you are in control unless, God forbid, something happens to your gear...I haven't thought it necessary to carry a back up reg yet but...

 

[lox]

Hmm...not wanting to sound or seem impolite but if you can afford a dive trip to T&C I would buy my own reg and have it serviced as recommended by the mfr and pack it in my carry on luggage along with my computer that way you are in control unless, God forbid, something happens to your gear...I haven't thought it necessary to carry a back up reg yet but...

No offense taken. Already spent $2500 on equipment (camera,computer,misc.) for this trip, so my budget was blown
My next purchases with be a full reg. setup and of course another new mask