Question Dive into the Future: Help Shape the Next-Gen Smart Diving Mask

[andyself]

Hi divers!

We’re developing a smart diving mask (project name: DS) that integrates dive computer functions and marine species recognition.

We would love your quick feedback:



⸻




1. Would you like real-time dive data displayed directly on your mask (like a car HUD)?

• A. Very much

• B. Somewhat

• C. Neutral

• D. Not interested



⸻



2. If you could identify marine species you encounter during a dive (and automatically log them), would you use it?

• A. Yes, sounds amazing

• B. Maybe, depending on the experience

• C. Not really needed



⸻



3. If the price is between ¥1000–¥3000 (~$140–$420), would you consider buying it?

• A. Yes

• B. Maybe

• C. No



⸻



Feel free to reply like “1A 2B 3C”. Thank you so much for your help!

 

[Tassie_Rohan]

No to all of the above.

You have an AI-generated image of a pair of safety googles with some fish, and a project name. That's a great start: but you may need a bit more detail to woo both investors and customers.

I think you're underestimating the optics, processing, storage and power required to identify species through machine learning, particularly in an ever-changing marine environment where you can't transmit images back to a server for identification.

Do keep us updated with a more in-depth design: As a start have a go at running simple optical sensors and computers under water.

I would also encourage you to patent the technology of the high-resolution full-mask display shown in your image. While common in sci-fi movies I'm sure the real-world version of this technology will be worth something.

Should you succeed, then you only need to answer the question "what problem am I actually trying to solve with this device". Sorry to say it but many folk dive to get away from technology for a while, and reaching for a fish ID book after a dive is one of the pleasures of this sport.

Cheers
Rohan.

 

[lowwall]

The whole point of recreational diving is to see stuff. Anything that interferes with your view of the undersea world is a negative. It's not like commuting where the point is to get to your destination with as little mental effort as necessary. With that in mind...

HUD - maybe? I would not want to rely on a mask as my primary dive computer, so I would want only 1 line of user definable data that's red, dimmable and off to the side or bottom.

Auto identify marine life during a dive? Hell no. I'm there to experience nature, not play with overlays or ruin my low light vision with computer graphics. Even little callout labels would be seriously annoying. OTOH, I would like to have a mask that records what I see and some sort of companion app that will let me review the dive on the surface and label species that I select.

Price? $140 is already in the range of premium masks, so that's fine. How much above depends on the features. Are you planning on getting the data for the HUD from a built in dive computer? If so then your upper end is certainly reasonable for a combo mask and backup dive computer. How good would the camera be? I'd pay at least $100 extra (probably more) for good quality built-in recording ability,

I should note that I'd have two additional requirements before I'd pay several hundred dollars for such a device. First, there could not be much of a penalty compared to conventional masks in terms of weight, size, and drag. Second, it would have to be at least somewhat modular, so the HUD, camera and dive computer modules could be replaced, preferably in the field, without having to buy a whole new device.

There's one more thing that admittedly only applies to a small percentage of divers. I have a very strong eyeglass prescription and require corrective lenses to be bonded to the inside of my masks. These can be added to any conventional scuba mask because they all use flat tempered glass lenses. I have no idea how that would affect a HUD and obviously I wouldn't be able to use a mask with a curved lens like in your illustration.

 

[Searcaigh]

We’re developing a smart diving mask (project name: DS) that integrates dive computer functions and marine species recognition.

We would love your quick feedback:

Oceanic brought out a mask with a display some years ago (+10 I think)

The problem with masks is that it's not a one size fits all, just look at the dive mask market for starters.

Software aside, you will need several mask styles to satisfy the market for starters, not to mention colours.

As for identifying species, which ocean are you going to start with?

 

[happy-diver]

I'll stay watching the big TVs in front of me wearing dive gear tipping buckets of sea water over my head thanks

 

[andyself]

No to all of the above.

You have an AI-generated image of a pair of safety googles with some fish, and a project name. That's a great start: but you may need a bit more detail to woo both investors and customers.

I think you're underestimating the optics, processing, storage and power required to identify species through machine learning, particularly in an ever-changing marine environment where you can't transmit images back to a server for identification.

Do keep us updated with a more in-depth design: As a start have a go at running simple optical sensors and computers under water.

I would also encourage you to patent the technology of the high-resolution full-mask display shown in your image. While common in sci-fi movies I'm sure the real-world version of this technology will be worth something.

Should you succeed, then you only need to answer the question "what problem am I actually trying to solve with this device". Sorry to say it but many folk dive to get away from technology for a while, and reaching for a fish ID book after a dive is one of the pleasures of this sport.

Cheers
Rohan.

Hi Rohan,

Thank you for your thoughtful and honest feedback — this is exactly the kind of perspective we were hoping to receive.

You’re absolutely right that identifying marine species via machine learning underwater involves significant challenges in optics, on-device processing, and energy management — particularly when cloud transmission is off the table. We’re currently exploring a more lightweight edge-AI approach combined with contextual filtering (e.g. location-based species lists) to simplify that workload, but your point is well-taken: we must start with robust local testing of basic underwater sensing and computation.

We also appreciate your point about the image. It’s just a conceptual illustration for now, but your suggestion to patent the mask-integrated display system is a good reminder that visual design — even speculative — can hold IP value. We’ll explore that route further.

You’ve brought up a crucial philosophical question, too: “What problem are we really solving?”

While some divers may wish to disconnect from tech, we’ve also spoken to many newer divers (especially photographers and dive instructors) who are looking for ways to simplify data management, log dives seamlessly, or enrich post-dive storytelling. Still, we need to be honest about where our product truly adds value — and where it risks becoming a distraction.

Thanks again for taking the time. If you’re open to it, we’d love to circle back once we have more concrete prototypes and tests to share.

Cheers,

DS Team

 

[andyself]

The whole point of recreational diving is to see stuff. Anything that interferes with your view of the undersea world is a negative. It's not like commuting where the point is to get to your destination with as little mental effort as necessary. With that in mind...

HUD - maybe? I would not want to rely on a mask as my primary dive computer, so I would want only 1 line of user definable data that's red, dimmable and off to the side or bottom.

Auto identify marine life during a dive? Hell no. I'm there to experience nature, not play with overlays or ruin my low light vision with computer graphics. Even little callout labels would be seriously annoying. OTOH, I would like to have a mask that records what I see and some sort of companion app that will let me review the dive on the surface and label species that I select.

Price? $140 is already in the range of premium masks, so that's fine. How much above depends on the features. Are you planning on getting the data for the HUD from a built in dive computer? If so then your upper end is certainly reasonable for a combo mask and backup dive computer. How good would the camera be? I'd pay at least $100 extra (probably more) for good quality built-in recording ability,

I should note that I'd have two additional requirements before I'd pay several hundred dollars for such a device. First, there could not be much of a penalty compared to conventional masks in terms of weight, size, and drag. Second, it would have to be at least somewhat modular, so the HUD, camera and dive computer modules could be replaced, preferably in the field, without having to buy a whole new device.

There's one more thing that admittedly only applies to a small percentage of divers. I have a very strong eyeglass prescription and require corrective lenses to be bonded to the inside of my masks. These can be added to any conventional scuba mask because they all use flat tempered glass lenses. I have no idea how that would affect a HUD and obviously I wouldn't be able to use a mask with a curved lens like in your illustration.

Hi lowwall,

Really appreciate your thoughtful feedback — especially your point about preserving the purity of the dive experience. You’re absolutely right: not every diver wants data overlays or tech interference underwater.

We’ve taken your suggestions seriously. We’re now exploring a minimalist HUD (single-line, red, dimmable, peripheral), and rethinking marine species recognition as a post-dive review feature via companion app — not real-time. Your idea hits the right balance.

Your notes on modularity, prescription lens compatibility, and pricing also gave us a lot to think about. We’ll aim for something upgradable, lightweight, and user-adaptable — not a sealed monolith.

Thanks again for pushing us to design with restraint and real-world usability. We’d love to share updates as the prototype evolves.

Cheers,

DS Team

 

[andyself]

Oceanic brought out a mask with a display some years ago (+10 I think)

The problem with masks is that it's not a one size fits all, just look at the dive mask market for starters.

Software aside, you will need several mask styles to satisfy the market for starters, not to mention colours.

As for identifying species, which ocean are you going to start with?

Hi Searcaigh,

Thank you for pointing out the challenges around fit and ecosystem diversity.

You’re right — masks are highly personal gear, and we’ll need to consider modular frames or size variations from the start, not just technology integration.

We also appreciate your reminder on species identification. Starting with a targeted ocean region makes much more sense than trying to tackle the whole world at once.

Thanks again for pushing us to think more carefully about user realities beyond just technical possibilities.

Cheers,

DS Team

 

[andyself]

I'll stay watching the big TVs in front of me wearing dive gear tipping buckets of sea water over my head thanks

Hi happy-diver,

Thanks for your reply ！

You’re right: nothing beats the raw, real feeling of diving itself. Technology should never try to replace that, only quietly support it if needed.

We’ll definitely keep your view in mind as we refine what we build — less distraction, more true connection with the ocean.

Thanks again！

Cheers,

DS Team

 

[Bigbella]

Having added HUDs to a couple of full face masks a while back, there were a couple of things that became clear — first, that it was initially convenient and a novelty to have that odd “floating” display (in our case, Shearwater NERDs attached to FFM rail systems) for hands-free use; and second, that it was far too distracting after thirty minutes, that I could hardly wait to flip the display away from the visor, once a task was done.

That was something that we both had in common -- and reminded me of a scotoma, the shimmering visual disturbances common to migraines.

Adding further Rube Goldberg complexities to a mask, beyond that of just a dive computer display -- already an irritation, in my book -- would be a hard sell . . .