Mask maintenance to avoid Mask fogging during dive?

[emoreira]

I've been using commercial antifog spray.
I was tired to spend such a lot of money in just a little bottle, so, searching here I've got the magical formula of the antifog :
1/2 Johnson&Johnson baby shampoo + 1/2 medicinal alcohol.
I re-used a little spray bottle and woala !
Spray a little in each lens of the mask when it's dry. Spread the mixture with your finger tip and rinse with sea water.
This will be enough for the whole dive.

 

[Mark Michaud SELAUSAR]

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/basic-scuba-discussions/365116-burning-film-your-mask.html

 

[Nolan]

Just how messy is this lighter + mask trick? Because I am about to try it in my bedroom. Right after I take the batteries out of the smoke detector.

 

[racerx_]

I did the toothpaste thing, it still fogged (with spitting in it). Did it again leaving the toothpaste to set overnight. Fogged less but still fogged.

Used someone's sea drops, fogged worse than with spit.

Finally someone had me put some johnson's no tears baby shampoo (tiny drop in each lens) and no more fog for me. I'm a believer. smear it and rinse like you do with spit or sea drops

 

[Herb-alaska]

clean it with a dab of soft scrub. I tried the tooth paste and had continual problems my LDS said soft scrub and a commercial anti fog right before the dive and no more fogging. I still clean my make periodically with soft scrub as it appears to get a bit of a build up that the soft scrub cleans away.

No more problems and no more need to keep water in the mask to clear the fog.

 

[DiveNav]

I spit in it the mask a couple of hours before using it .... and I leave it there ... no rinsing.

Then I rinse the mask just before entering the water .... it never fogs

 

[Bubbletrubble]

Just how messy is this lighter + mask trick? Because I am about to try it in my bedroom. Right after I take the batteries out of the smoke detector.

The mask-lighter trick is quick and easy. A black soot-like residue is left behind which comes off quite easy. As long as you keep moving the flame around, the probability of melting the silicone skirt is very low.

If you have a dual lens (one for each eye), why not do a little experiment? Use the mask-lighter trick on one eye and Soft Scrub/toothpaste on the other. Spit in each lens and then go for a dive. This should help you figure out which technique is more effective in your hands.

I did the toothpaste thing, it still fogged (with spitting in it). Did it again leaving the toothpaste to set overnight. Fogged less but still fogged.

Leaving toothpaste on the lens overnight will do very little. You need to be using a toothpaste (not gel), and you need to put some elbow grease into it.

For whatever reason, some masks seem to be more difficult to prep (due to kind of mold-release agent?). I had a friend who bought one of those pricey, frameless Atomic Aquatics masks. Toothpaste scrubs didn't work with it. After a couple of post-dive complaint sessions, we tried the lighter method...and it worked like a charm.

 

[vinx]

Will dive later today... lets see if it still fogs... if still fogs again, i will try that johnson's baby shampoo method. Seems like a cheaper way to go.. hehe

 

[Nolan]

Who would have thought I would be adding baby shampoo and a lighter to my dive gear? Thanks for all the advice and tricks of the trade!

 

[dmoore19]

I like Sea Gold anti fog gel. I like the gel better than the liquid, it seems to work the best for me. I put a very small glob on my mask and rub it around before I get on the boat, then rinse just before I splash. It seems to last for 2-3 dives. I also liked the Sea Buff mask scrub. I scrub my mask after it has been stored and prior to a dive trip, it seems to work better than toothpaste for me. I haven't had any problems with fog since I started using it. The Sea Drops are made by the same company, McNett. Sea Buff