Face Mask problems due to face shape

[sourcearun]

Hi All,

I recently got OW certified. During the pool sessions, I tried out atleast 6 different masks - all different brands (mares/cressi/oceanic/trident etc) as well as different sizes (large to medium to small). But every one of them got flooded. My instructor observed my face and mask flooding very closely underwater and concluded that
my face structure is such that there is a pronounced depression just outside the corner of my eyes. He said that it was going to be very difficult to get a perfect flooding-free mask for me and he trained me real well in mask clearing. The dives went off smoothly
but I had to keep clearing my mask every few minutes under water.

Now what I would like to learn is, can I go for a full face mask, especially Kirby Morgan SuperMask, which seems to be the only FFM that is easy enough for new divers? It's supposed to let you easily breathe from alternate or even talk at the surface, without having to take it off.

Or is there any other better mask that fits over depressions in face etc.?

All advice will be thankfully received.

Arun

 

[Garrobo]

Botox?

 

[CRC65]

Try moving your mask further down on your face so it sits just above your upper lip. Sometimes having it rest against the bottom of your nose causes a break in its seal. Also some masks have a lip under which you can pack some material (bits of wetsuit etc) to get it to push in more around the area where you are getting leaks. Good luck.

 

[rstofer]

If you only have to clear every few minutes, so what? It's just a cost of diving.

I deliberately keep my mask loose on my face by continually equalizing it. I don't want it to squeeze. From time to time I get some leakage. Who cares?

Now, about clearing the mask: most training involves the simple, body vertical in the water, blow it out the bottom approach. The problem with this is that you usually swim horizontal, or you should, and this means you have to stop what you are doing, reorient your head (at least) and clear the mask.

In the old days of double hose regulators, they had a process for clearing the hoses that involved rolling about 90 degrees to the left so that the outlet hose was down. With a sharp exhale, the hose was cleared. But the neat thing was that they used the same technique for clearing the mask. Instead of holding the upper edge as you were taught in OW, hold the right edge and blow the water out the left edge. Or vice versa...

With this technique you don't have to reorient your body nearly as much. Just a slight roll, blow and recover.

OK, now the disclaimer. I just read about this technique a couple of weeks ago. I haven't had a chance to test it in the ocean. That will happen on Friday.

Richard

 

[Divedoggie]

You might try a Mares Liquidskin mask, if you haven't already. The skirt is very soft and malleable, and might flex into the "leaky" area.

 

[mksmith713]

Mares Liquidskin and Cressi Big Eyes.
Also try masks with black skirts.
IMO....the silicone used in black skirts feels softer and contours the face better.

 

[David_57]

There a product that some divers with beards use cant think of the name, you could also try silicone if you put that around the seal rim of the mask and maybe a little on your face where the leaks occur should help stop the leaks. Check it out on this link

https://www.diverightinscuba.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1815

 

[Coldwater_Canuck]

If you only have to clear every few minutes, so what? It's just a cost of diving.

A constantly leaking mask would be a pretty big annoyance though. This isn't a normal cost of diving.

 

[rstofer]

A constantly leaking mask would be a pretty big annoyance though. This isn't a normal cost of diving.

I guess it depends on the definition of "few minutes". If that was every 5 minutes, or so, I wouldn't even think about it. Just roll, blow and recover. What's the big deal?

Now, if it was EVERY minute, I would probably try to find a solution. But, if there isn't a solution, then it is just a cost of diving.

Richard

 

[Coldwater_Canuck]

I guess it depends on the definition of "few minutes". If that was every 5 minutes, or so, I wouldn't even think about it. Just roll, blow and recover. What's the big deal?

Now, if it was EVERY minute, I would probably try to find a solution. But, if there isn't a solution, then it is just a cost of diving.

Richard

It's not something to quit diving over, but still you should be able to get a mask that fits. The only time I need to clear water is when I purposely flood it due to fogging.