Facial hair and Mask sealing

[undrwater]

Fit - Fit - Fit - That's it! should be a scuba song. With so much being thrown at us in terms of features, fit seems to be asked to sit in the back of the bus.

Go to a shop that has a large selection of masks...ask them to help you with fit if you need to be shown. When you find the one that fits you perfectly, buy it (or save till you can...it'll be worth it). Then remember to do this each time you need to buy any gear that relates to a fit with your body.

Oh...and I agree with taking a little slice out of the 'stache under your nose.

 

[Rich Poorman]

Hey everyone . . . thanks for the replies and advice. If I hadn't already invested in corrective lenses for my Tilos mask, I'd be shopping for a better mask, although I must say it is comfortable and a reasonable fit. Reminds me of buying my first ski gear — until I got better at the sport, I didn't realize that my equipment could be improved upon. I compared my mask with my wife's (both the same model), and see no difference in the skirt after about 50 hours with vaseline, so it must be a slow deterioration process indeed. I researched the Chapstick website and find they have several "natural" products that probably are not petroleum-based. I'll continue my research and report anything relevant.
I haven't seen my upper lip since 1968, when I tried to use a gas stove to light up a "shortie" (it seemed like a good idea at the time). I can probably trim off 1/8 inch without going into identity crisis — might even stop being mistaken for Wilford Brimley. Hey, where did that Jimmy Buffet lyric come from? Maybe he had a "gas stove experience" too?

Rich Poorman

 

[SoggyShoes]

Rich Poorman,

The Lyrics are from “Pencil Thin Mustache” by Jimmy Buffett. It is on a Compilation CD called “Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays” among many others. Here is a link to the lyrics: http://www.lyricsfreak.com/j/jimmy+buffett/pencil+thin+mustache_20072010.html

Soggy

 

[laserdoc]

shave it off for the trip. Grow it back afterwards

 

[SteveAD]

try running a bead of aquaseal around the skirt just before you put the mask on, you mas never get it off but it won't leak.

 

[deeper thoughts]

I too had these problems. I used the Mares seta for years(10) and always had a good fit but all of sudden it leaked like crazy. I bought another seta and it too leaked, after trying numerous masks I purchased the EVO purge from divers direct, it was cheap and fits perfectly I guess you never know until you try.

 

[Scububbs]

My LDS recomends against vasoline since it will degrade the silicon in the mask skirt, and pretty quickly from what I hear. I bought some cheap silicon grease on eBay to try sealing my mustache, but in the end I just trimmed it short and since I use a purge valve mask it wasn't that big of a deal to clear in now and then. I also found that as the mask got older it sealed better at depth, and now it isn't much of a problem at all.

 

[Scruffy Diver]

Chapstick is a Wax.

 

[SwimsWithSharks]

I used vaseline for a few years with no problems. I eventually just shaved the mustache part and kept a half goat. That worked great!

 

[scububa]

Sometimes mine leaks, sometimes not. I think it might be the level of trimming, but I don't do anything special for dives.

I too like a little water in the mask to keep it clear. When it isn't leaking, I am cracking it open to get some water in it. I keep it clean and use defog (on the mask, thanks). But, different temp conditions cause it to fog at times. So, water is helpful.