How many masks did you go through to find one that works?

[Jayfarmlaw]

Mask fit is more complicated than most think. Most people get lucky and have a great fit with the once size fits all. I have a cro-magnon man forehead, pronounced brow, deepset eyes, and more lines than I want to admit. I have probably tried on over 100 masks and have found exactly 3 that are useable.

Very few people put a mouthpiece in their mouth when they are trying masks. It makes a difference, especially if you have characteristics that make you hard to fit.

Strap location and tightness are critical. They can be too tight.

Design makes a difference as well, single lens, double lense, three lense, high volume, low volume, everyone will fit a little different.

Mustache? Stubble?

That being said, @MAKO Spearguns is a supporter of this site and manufactures quality masks with an absolute no BS guarantee. I tried all three of their designs and none worked for me, but my money was back on my account BEFORE they received their masks back. IIRC, they seemed to have a wider sealing surface than most masks I tried, just not deep enough at the eyes.

For my big melon, I use the US divers "Rescue" type 3 window mask that were popular in the 70's and 80's. There is also a mask called the "Cortez" ...XS Scuba maybe....that is good for large heads too. It seals on me but presses on my brow.

It's trial and error, you just have to find the one that is right for you.

Good luck,
Jay

 

[Snoweman]

Nope. No mustache.

Interesting. Do you notice the same problem without a reg or snorkel in your mouth?

 

[shurite7]

It took me seven masks. Over time I have had to change to a different mask.

There is a joke out there that goes - if you have a perfectly fitting mask let me know because I am going to steel it.

 

[Centrals]

Oily skin?
Cleanse the face before putting the mask on. Sweat/sun tan lotion have to be washed away.

I clean the skirt of the mask regularly especially before and after a trip because grease/grime do build up there.

 

[ssssnake529]

What did you do during your scuba course?

I just suffered with bad seals. They had a bunch of rental masks that I tried. Used 5 or 6 different masks during my training. All were bad (worse than the ones I have now.)

I am going to try some with harder silicone compounds and see if those work better than the ones I'm using now which all have pretty soft silicone under my nose.

My wife was lucky. The first mask I bought for her worked perfectly. Great fit out of the water. Great fit while diving. Almost no leakage at all. Very comfortable.

I am jealous.

 

[divinh]

Two.

My first mask was purchased at my optometrist. I hadn't even had my first dive yet and knew nothing about picking masks. I did know I needed a prescription, so I ordered a mask through them, thinking whatever it was going to be, it should work.

I always had a slight leak, but I'm cheap, so kept living with it. I got super good with mask clearing.

I also didn't know to keep the mask in the case when keeping the mask inside the gear bag, which gets tossed quite a bit. One day, the mask broke. I had to borrow one from the dive shop. It had a prescription, close, but not perfect. That mask fit perfectly and fortunately was a very ubiquitous design, the Cressi Focus. I now have two, ready to go.

 

[undrwater]

Mask fit is more complicated than most think. Most people get lucky and have a great fit with the once size fits all. I have a cro-magnon man forehead, pronounced brow, deepset eyes, and more lines than I want to admit. I have probably tried on over 100 masks and have found exactly 3 that are useable.

Very few people put a mouthpiece in their mouth when they are trying masks. It makes a difference, especially if you have characteristics that make you hard to fit.

Strap location and tightness are critical. They can be too tight.

Design makes a difference as well, single lens, double lense, three lense, high volume, low volume, everyone will fit a little different.

Mustache? Stubble?

That being said, @MAKO Spearguns is a supporter of this site and manufactures quality masks with an absolute no BS guarantee. I tried all three of their designs and none worked for me, but my money was back on my account BEFORE they received their masks back. IIRC, they seemed to have a wider sealing surface than most masks I tried, just not deep enough at the eyes.

For my big melon, I use the US divers "Rescue" type 3 window mask that were popular in the 70's and 80's. There is also a mask called the "Cortez" ...XS Scuba maybe....that is good for large heads too. It seals on me but presses on my brow.

It's trial and error, you just have to find the one that is right for you.

Good luck,
Jay

This is an excellent post, and I encourage you to reach out to @MAKO Spearguns. Their low profile mask is one of the two I've found that allow me to have dry eyes most dives. The other is a US Divers low profile mask.

Good hunting!

 

[ssssnake529]

Thanks for the good advice. Just ordered the Cortez and Mako masks. (along with a few others from various manufacturers.) Hopefully one of them will work.

Mask fit is more complicated than most think. Most people get lucky and have a great fit with the once size fits all. I have a cro-magnon man forehead, pronounced brow, deepset eyes, and more lines than I want to admit. I have probably tried on over 100 masks and have found exactly 3 that are useable.

Very few people put a mouthpiece in their mouth when they are trying masks. It makes a difference, especially if you have characteristics that make you hard to fit.

Strap location and tightness are critical. They can be too tight.

Design makes a difference as well, single lens, double lense, three lense, high volume, low volume, everyone will fit a little different.

Mustache? Stubble?

That being said, @MAKO Spearguns is a supporter of this site and manufactures quality masks with an absolute no BS guarantee. I tried all three of their designs and none worked for me, but my money was back on my account BEFORE they received their masks back. IIRC, they seemed to have a wider sealing surface than most masks I tried, just not deep enough at the eyes.

For my big melon, I use the US divers "Rescue" type 3 window mask that were popular in the 70's and 80's. There is also a mask called the "Cortez" ...XS Scuba maybe....that is good for large heads too. It seals on me but presses on my brow.

It's trial and error, you just have to find the one that is right for you.

Good luck,
Jay

 

[Jayfarmlaw]

If they don't work, and you can put up with the hammerhead shark jokes, or the comments from older divemaster s that they dove the same mask in 1978.. this one fits. It takes 2 breaths to clear a full flood and strong currents will actually make it shake on your face...but it fits me great.

Aqua Lung Wraparound Mask, Black

On the bright side, no one grabs my mask by mistake.

Good luck,
Jay

 

[boulderjohn]

Maybe you are having too much fun.

Smiling will make your mask leak. Almost any facial movement will. You have to keep a complete poker face while diving.

I knew someone who went through 3 masks--just as you have--before someone explained it to him. Once he figured that out, he had 3 masks that fit him just fine.