Black masks

[WVDiver]

From dive rite express

Why Black Dive Masks Are Better
Clear skirts on masks are popular because they minimize the claustrophobic feeling some people get when they wear a mask. Nevertheless, clear skirts and even colored frames actually interfere with vision. Extraneous light entering through the clear skirt makes it more difficult for the eye to focus and causes reflections that obscure vision. Demonstrate this by looking out a window from a lighted room at twilight. You will see better by cupping your hands around your eyes as you press your face to the window. Brightly colored glossy accent frames can also cause annoying color halos around the lenses. For these reasons, knowledgeable divers seeking the best possible vision prefer masks with solid black skirts and frames.

Makes a lot of sense

Good answer. In short, black masks cut the glare.

 

[Nemrod]

Why not a blue mask? N

 

[PaulChristenson]

Good answer. In short, black masks cut the glare.

Yeah...but they make it hard to see...:shades:

 

[Firediver32]

This is why I love this board. Thanks for the answers

 

[BabyDuck]

and actually, the clear skirts don't improve your range of vision as much as you'd think.

put on a clear skirt mask & get on the floor on your tummy. look to your front without moving your head. have someone move their hand toward you from above, the sides, etc until you say you can see it. try it again with a black skirted mask. i bet they're pretty close.

but i have a clear one anyway. yet another thing to be replaced eventually...

 

[ScubaMike05]

I personally use a yellow mask just for the security of it making me more visible to buddies, and if in the rare event my mask is lost, I have a chance of finding it.

That's not to say that the black doesn't have the coolness factor.

 

[JohnL]

DIR rule 6.

There is NO rule 6

I don't know how much of a difference the black skirt makes in every day use, but many of the more "technically oriented" masks tend to be black. Lot's of advantages to a low volume, well designed mask though.

 

[strazz]

I recently made the switch to an all black mask and noticed a big difference during my last several dives. Colors seem to be more vibrant, especially when natural light is scarce and I'm relying on my lights. I switched from a clear Cressi Horizon to a Dive Rite frameless and I'll never go back.

 

[Notso_Ken]

DIR rule 6.

That would seem to be a reason to go with something other than black!

Ken

 

[redacted]

Some of the better masks are available only in black. Scubapro Frameless for one.