having mask problems

[Mustangfreak]

Alright, I now have 2 masks. My first one is a Sherwood, dont know what model. It has been a great mask, but during the last 10 or so dives, towards the end of the dive, it feels like it pushing up against the bottom of my nose and wont keep down. The pain isnt too much, its just annoying. So the last dive I did I got fed up and bought a new Tusa mask. It worked great, doesnt oush up agaisnt my nose or anything. It did fog up, but I expected that since I didnt have anything to take off that film with. But it leaked! It wouldnt leak alot, but I dont like having water in my mask at all.

Will my new mask form to my face eventually? I dont ever remember my Sherwood leaking in the beginning.

 

[Quarrior]

Both sound like proper fitting issues. Try this.

1. Hold your breath.
2. Gently press the mask on your face without the strap.
3. Leave the mask there. See if you can hold it there without inhaling through your nose at all.

If the mask stays put, then loosen the strap on the Sherwood. If the Tusa stays as well, then you may need to get it good and clean with some toothpast (non-gel) type. Probably will take 2 or more washings. Clean the skirt too.

 

[DandyDon]

Are you wearing a hood or beanie? Looks like it in your Avatar, and if you do on every dive, this could be the problem. The Mask needs to go on first, then the hood/beanie, so that if air gets trapped in the head gear - it won't pull your strap out of place. Might also burn an air vent in your hood/beanie with a soldering iron. I keep intending to do that, but haven't yet, so I cannot elaborate.

Also try different positions on the strap. From looking at your profile pic, I wouldn't think you'd have problems with any mask fitting.

Fogging on a new mask is expected until you clean it, and we could run a poll on what to use. I think toothpaste is as good as anything, gel or not, as long as it's not abrasive. :14:

 

[Divmstr223]

Don, I think that's just his hair....not a hood at all..lol

Mustang, I have the same problem with my mask pushing up on my nose. Love my mask though, doesn't leak and feels great. I think sometimes I have the mask strap up too high on the back of my head, so gradually it just pulls the mask up that way and it progresses as the dives goes on. I just readjust it and it's not that big of a deal.

 

[Mustangfreak]

No, Im not using a hood or beani. I did once and didnt like it one bit.

I dove with the sherwood again twice today, It pushed up against my nose again, so I cleared my mask and moved it down. It stayed down for a good while.

I guess the Tusa is a back up mask now.

 

[DandyDon]

No, Im not using a hood or beani. I did once and didnt like it one bit.

I dove with the sherwood again twice today, It pushed up against my nose again, so I cleared my mask and moved it down. It stayed down for a good while.

I guess the Tusa is a back up mask now.

Ok - I don't like hoods, but do like beanies, yet - they can cause a couple of problems with masks.

"Push up against your nose...?" Are you getting a mask squeeze? Just a little such can make for a good seal, but if you don't equalize going deeper - it can be too much.

I'm off to dive this morning, silicone grease on my moustach.

 

[www.scubamazing.com]

how are you doing with equalizing?

 

[Mustangfreak]

how are you doing with equalizing?

like normal, I pinch my nose and blow.

The mask pushes up on the bottom of my nose.

 

[Gary D.]

When you are in the market for a mask take your time and shop around. I mean shop around a lot. Do not rush a purchase and it’s OK to go to other shops other than your LDS.

Brand should have nothing to do with your choice. What’s important is the fit.

4000 people can recommend a mask and say it the best ever with the best name and the coolest colors and the best this and the best that. But guess what, if it doesn’t fit is can be the biggest piece of crap ever made.

I can wear a wide variety of masks on the market. But there is only one mask, a Mares that fits like it was molded off my face and it cost around $90 new.

I had one for better than 10 years then some FNG, that didn’t have a clue, comes onto MY dive boat, makes himself at home and drops his tank and BC on top of my gear bag crushing the case and shattering the lens. I don’t have a clue who he was but he better hope we don’t meet again. That idiot thought we were a charter boat.

So trying to find a new one was a major ordeal that took several months. Just my luck, the one I was looking for had been discontinued.

So I start looking for some that look similar in the catalogs. I couldn’t see them just up and junking a style like that one. Hummm, here is one that is identical.

We order it and guess what, it’s the same mask with a new name. Fits like the original one and best of all it was half the price, $45.

So if you lose something you get attached to look around. It may still be there.

The biggest thing is fit. Forget all the hype, brand name, style, features and recommendations. Look for a good comfortable fit first then look at the other things.

By the way, our LDS doesn’t sell that brand but they are very understanding about it and know how important a good fit it.

Gary D.

 

[spectrum]

The Tusa sounds like a bad fit, perhaps OK for a back-up or loaner.

Regarding the Sherwood, I have something that happens to me on skin-dives and sometimes on scuba dives that may be related. After about half an hour (almost like clockwork) something in my nasal passages starts to clog up and makes my mask do some weird stuff. I hold a finger to one nostril and blow, then repeat for the other. The congestion clears and I'm fine for a spell. It's someting to do with the cold on my nasal passages I suppose. Sustained oral breathing may be part of it to but it's easy to deal with. Perhaps a hood would do you some good. As mentioned be sure it's vented or it can make your mask do a whole other mess of tricks. A beanie is a nice compromise.

Pete