Recent Revelation: Your Mask is on too Tight

[MrChen]

I bought my mask which comes with the standard straps. I had a problem with my mask riding up on my nose and sometimes causing me to have a nose bleed while diving. On one of my first dives with a camera, my buddy took a picture of me. I noticed my mask was riding high, which helped confirm it was riding up on my nose. It was very uncomfortable. I tried putting the strap lower on the back of my head and I tried tightening the straps. Neither option worked.

Recently I replaced the strap with a velcro strap. Now this strap has ZERO stretch to it. I was concerned about it because when I tightened it, the mask was only slightly applying pressure (if any) against my face. I can't express how comfortable my mask felt during that first dive! This drove me to the conclusion, that my mask was simply too tight. With my velcro strap, I almost feel like it's going to fall off, but it doesn't and under water I don't have any discomfort.

The strap I purchased was announced in this thread: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/cl...mask-straps-mask-saver-mask-saver-deluxe.html

I purchased it from Amazon for $12.95 + $4.50 shipping. I almost bought a new mask instead. Mask Saver Diving Slap Strap Standard Version in Blue Neoprene Including Mask Strap / BCD Hook & Clip Attachment for Mask Safekeeping (Blue) : Amazon.com : Sports & Outdoors

Another cool feature is the clips. They give you a clip to put on your BC and when not wearing your mask, you can attach it to this clip so it hangs from your BC. This is great when getting ready to dive and you're trying to juggle a dozen items. And when you complete your dive, clip it and forget it. You can also unclip the straps and let it loosely hang around your neck.

So for all you new divers like me, if your mask just isn't comfortable, loosen up the strap to the point it lightly sits on your face. If you're struggling with this, then try a velcro style strap.

 

[fnfalman]

I'm surprised that neither your instructor nor your dive shop sales reps helped you out with proper mask fitting. And yes, you don't pull the straps so tight that you'd look like an actor in Quentin Tarantino movies.

 

[MrChen]

I tried on every mask in the shop multiple times and they had about 60-70 different masks. But no, they didn't adjust the straps for me nor check to see if it was too tight. It was my own doing, not realizing how loose it could be. I just wanted to share with all the other new divers like myself which could be making the same error (which I why I posted in the new divers forum).

 

[TSandM]

It's not unusual, when I am cave diving, for the isolator on my manifold to push my strap up to the point where it is floating above my head. I have never had my mask come off from this. A well fitted mask will stay in place just from a very small pressure differential; the strap is really just an insurance policy.

 

[boulderjohn]

When I talk to beginning OW students about how tight mask straps should be, I put the mask on (with a snorkel hanging from it), and then I push the back of the strap over my head while I am talking to them. I continue to talk with the mask on without the strap in place as they realize that the mask should not be tight at all while diving.

I was once setting up a diving platform before a class, and while dragging all the gear out across the lake, my mask got caught between some equipment, and the strap connection was broken on one side. I had left my spare mask on shore. I did a 30 minute setup dive with no strap.

 

[messenone]

Bought a couple of those myself a little time ago. I only tried it on one dive. It felt ok but I still need to find the perfect adjustment.

it also works a pouch and yes the part where you can just open the clips and let it hang around your neck is perfect.