Permanent solution to fogging on the Scuba Masks involving Nanotechnology

[The Chairman]

I find it strange that when the average dive mask in the market costs about EUR80 the OP is thinking about solutions that begin at EUR200?

It's not strange: they're trying to figure all this out. Some things are just expensive and the effort to deal with foggy masks go back quite a ways. I bought my first mask from Hal Watts back in 1969. It was a tri-panel, huge-volume Scubapro mask which paired well with the Jets I bought from him at the same time. Being quite new to diving, I was quite frustrated with fogging, so Hal sold me the best in a de-fogging solution. I went back to freedive the springs (I lived in Central Florida) and generously coated the three plates with the solution. Wow! No fog! Unfortunately, I didn't rinse the mask. The directions on the bottle were smeared, so I had no idea what I was doing. On the second or third ascent I happened to look up, and some of that ooze got into my right eye. Ye-ouch!!! The pain was excruciating, and I pulled my mask off, desperately trying to rinse the pain out. It didn't work, and I realized I was actually blind in that eye. My mom took me to the ER, with no relief. The next day, I saw my optometrist, who sent me down the road to an ophthalmologist. It took about a week for my vision to be restored, but I've never ever trusted that stuff. I lick my mask now, usually not availing myself of the spit contaminated mask buckets they have on most boats.

So, while I would love a permanent coating of some sort to solve this issue, 200 smackers is a steep barrier for me to even try it. I have a lot of free spit that I have ready access to. I find that getting the right fit is the most important aspect to choosing a mask. For me, the Mako Ultra-low Volume Freediving Mask is the best fit. I love it and have two spares, just in case.

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[MAKO Spearguns]

So, while I would love a permanent coating of some sort to solve this issue, 200 smackers is a steep barrier for me to even try it. I have a lot of free spit that I have ready access to. I find that getting the right fit is the most important aspect to choosing a mask. For me, the Mako Ultra-low Volume Freediving Mask is the best fit. I love it and have two spares, just in case.

View attachment 842881-P​

Pete:

I appreciate the shout out about MAKO. However I think you might have provided an incorrect link, since this is for a dedicated freedive training mask that has a plastic lense.

Possibly you meant to provide this link of the MAKO Minimus mask?

Minimus (aka Mini) Freedive Mask

The Mini diving mask takes the ratio of Low Volume vs. Field of View to the perfect equation, minimizing volume while maintaining optimum field of view.

makospearguns.com

Thanks
dano

 

[The Chairman]

Pete:

I appreciate the shout out about MAKO. However I think you might have provided an incorrect link, since this is for a dedicated freedive training mask that has a plastic lense.

Possibly you meant to provide this link of the MAKO Minimus mask?

Minimus (aka Mini) Freedive Mask

The Mini diving mask takes the ratio of Low Volume vs. Field of View to the perfect equation, minimizing volume while maintaining optimum field of view.

makospearguns.com

Thanks
dano

What??? You think you know more about your masks than I do? Well, OK, you've got a point! Thanks for the correction. I luv your mask. Here is my first Mako mask, I now use your blue mask, as I like to be colorful underwater. Sharks and other predators are often black, and fish feel threatened. I'm guiding a special needs (adaptive) diver for Diveheart here. Your mask just doesn't leak, and it allows me to have great situational awareness since I don't have keep dealing with clearing my mask. It's awesome on my rebreather too! Low volume and no leaks are my idea of the ideal mask.

 

[MAKO Spearguns]

THANKS Pete!

 

[CanadaDan]

Looked at the survey but the cost question was a killer. To not use up CAD$40 of premium antifog spray a year (yeah I like the good stuff and I share a lot) I would have to keep a mask for years to have an expensive permanent solution make sense. Not to mention I have to change prescription lenses every two years as my eyes shift.

If this was a CAD$50 (EUR$35) add on to my CAD$300 prescription lenses (preferably offered by the MFG as an add-on) I would go for it... but that's about as much as I would consider spending.

This is an interesting idea but instead of trying to sell to end users at a high cost and low frequency repeat why not sell to MFG's in bulk to not only drop the end user price but minimize in house promotion costs and boost unit sales?

 

[-JD-]

I've been working from a materials-on-hand version of lowviz's strategy: dishwasher then additional surface etching with ammonia. Anti-Fogging Treatments for New Masks. (a comparison of techniques)

I think we owe a lot to his insight and experimentation!

Instead of working up a paste, I've used liquid houshold ammonia with vegetable oil as an evaporation barrier after several trips through the diswasher and then a couple after to clean up the oil. Anti-Fogging Treatments for New Masks. (a comparison of techniques)

Seemed to work pretty well for my frameless masks, but would likely destroy any plastic which would be exposed to the ammonia directly or in vapor. The oil does do a good job of containing the ammonia with no significant odor when opening the sealed container after almost a week.

Likely nowhere near as good as a nanotech coating, but so far a good preformance to cost ratio.

 

[Darix2030]

Dear Users,

Thank you for your understanding and patience regarding the fogging issues with scuba masks. We greatly appreciate your valuable feedback and the time you took to share your insights.

We are excited to share that our team is actively working on a revolutionary solution utilising cutting-edge nanotechnology. This advanced approach holds the promise of providing a permanent solution to mask fogging, ensuring clear vision during every dive. Your input is invaluable as we strive to enhance the diving experience for everyone in the community.


We understand that there have been various temporary solutions to mask fogging, such as using toothpaste, baby shampoo, or specialized sprays. However, we believe that nanotechnology can offer a superior, long-lasting solution. As soon as we have a beta version ready for testing, we would be more than happy to share a couple of masks with you. This will allow you to experience firsthand how effective this technology can be, and we are confident it will prove to be a game-changer.


Thank you once again for your understanding and support. We look forward to providing you with a fog-free diving experience soon.

Best regards,

Dario A Viana
CEO
VMI Consulting

 

[happy-diver]

I think it would be advantageous if MAKO included in their low volume range a flash looking mask
of this twin lens style that accepted the wide range of Tusa/Scubapro plus and minus vision lenses

That's what I think anyway

 

[TrimixToo]

View attachment 842762

Ah, a spendthrift, I see. The dollar store stuff works just as well... ;-)

 

[TrimixToo]

Dear Users,

Thank you for your understanding and patience regarding the fogging issues with scuba masks. We greatly appreciate your valuable feedback and the time you took to share your insights.

We are excited to share that our team is actively working on a revolutionary solution utilising cutting-edge nanotechnology. This advanced approach holds the promise of providing a permanent solution to mask fogging, ensuring clear vision during every dive. Your input is invaluable as we strive to enhance the diving experience for everyone in the community.


We understand that there have been various temporary solutions to mask fogging, such as using toothpaste, baby shampoo, or specialized sprays. However, we believe that nanotechnology can offer a superior, long-lasting solution. As soon as we have a beta version ready for testing, we would be more than happy to share a couple of masks with you. This will allow you to experience firsthand how effective this technology can be, and we are confident it will prove to be a game-changer.


Thank you once again for your understanding and support. We look forward to providing you with a fog-free diving experience soon.

Best regards,

Dario A Viana
CEO
VMI Consulting

This has a lot more words than it needs, and appears to have been written by a non-diver. Every diver would of course love to have a mask that never fogs. Everyone on this board also "understands the fogging issue."

But frankly, nobody cares what the solution is. Nanotechnology, chemistry, new materials, coatings, whatever. Cost, utility, ease of use, and durability matter in considering any solution. People will be excited, to whatever extent they get excited, by the function, not the solution of the buzzwords.

It's also not clear (pun intended) that you understand the existing solutions. Perhaps I can help. Toothpaste is used to remove the film left by manufacturing. It's a one-time application, not a "temporary solution." During the manufacturing of your product, that step will need to be addressed. Surfactants such as baby shampoo and dive industry packaged sprays and fluids marketed to divers at exorbitant prices require per-dive applications. As such, they are "temporary" in the sense that you use them on each dive, but they aren't really temporary solutions. Saliva works well for many people, too.

Just ask these questions: "What would you be willing to pay for a mask that never fogs?" And, "Would you buy a new mask if it never fogged?" Or, "Would you buy a product you could use in a single application to prevent your dive mask from fogging forever?"

Finally, remember that there's a lot of truth in the old saw: "Question: How to you make a small fortune in the dive industry? Answer: Start with a large one." If you can't hit a reasonable price point, divers will keep using spit or baby shampoo or whatever, and your investment dollars will just be...gone.

Sorry to be blunt, but I'm honestly trying to be helpful.