Tusa Paragon S mask leaking (2 of them!)

[the_jaguar]

I bought a Tusa Paragon S mask (after having tried another one at a pool) and used it for the first time when I was out in Sipadan and imagine my disappointment when it started leaking from the top part of the mask (where the frame of the mask attaches to the front glass pane). After I came back up, I tested it by filling water into the mask to see if it leaks and yes, water started to drip down. I had to borrow another mask from my buddy for the rest of the trip. My shop agreed to replace the mask (after looking at the video and checking with Tusa). Guess what, the replacement mask also leaks around the same area and this I found out while I was on another dive last month. Luckily I had brought along my spare mask, which saved the trip.

What are the odds of 2 masks leaking back to back. I informed the shop about this and after checking with Tusa, he essentially told me that there must have been a bad batch of masks, which is why Tusa has agreed to either replace the mask or refund me the full amount. After 2 back to back bad experiences, I decided to take the refund and I am now in search of a new mask. I bought the same mask for my wife at the same time from the same shop (but it came in different packaging, box, etc) and that mask works perfectly fine, no leaks whatsoever (I have tried them on a couple of dives too), so it's clear that the leaking masks are a manufacturing issue. I am still quite shocked that for a mask that costs $200, the quality control is so bad that they haven't even bothered to test them thoroughly!

I would really appreciate suggestions for other masks that are similar (single frame preferably). Also, is there anything I can do with the leaky masks, like try fixing the leak, etc?

EDIT: I guess age is catching up to me. I realized that I had posted about the 1st mask earlier Mods, feel free to merge the threads if you think that would be better

 

[lexvil]

I’ve had a few paragon masks and they were great, now I’m using scubapro D masks which I bought for the replaceable lenses that you could get straight from SP, this no longer is the case it seems. If you don’t need any correction in the lens there are a lot of choices in masks that cost substantially less than the Tusa. Look at MAKO who posts here often, good prices for great stuff.

 

[AztecToreros]

I just bought a paragon s at my LDS that they had to order from Tusa (didn't have color in stock). It came in last week and I tried it out in the pool and it was leaking like crazy.

I mentioned it to them before leaving and they suggested that sometimes there's a film on the silicone when brand new that could affect the seal, so I thought maybe it was just a bad seal because of that. I thought I'd just do a thorough wash/prep and go back to the pool to test it again later.

After reading this (and your other) thread, I tried filling it with water and it started dripping through the mask at the top of the glass immediately, as you described with yours.

I plan on bringing it back to the LDS this week, but it does sound like a bad batch. Mine is the blue one with a black skirt.

 

[happy-diver]

I mentioned it to them before leaving and they suggested that sometimes there's a film on the silicone when brand new that could affect the seal

I am experiencing much of this, where maybe the shops are hiring non diving shop assistants
or instructors that have the I don't want to appear to have no answer disease so say anything

 

[the_jaguar]

I just bought a paragon s at my LDS that they had to order from Tusa (didn't have color in stock). It came in last week and I tried it out in the pool and it was leaking like crazy.

I mentioned it to them before leaving and they suggested that sometimes there's a film on the silicone when brand new that could affect the seal, so I thought maybe it was just a bad seal because of that. I thought I'd just do a thorough wash/prep and go back to the pool to test it again later.

After reading this (and your other) thread, I tried filling it with water and it started dripping through the mask at the top of the glass immediately, as you described with yours.

I plan on bringing it back to the LDS this week, but it does sound like a bad batch. Mine is the blue one with a black skirt.

I am surprised the issue isn't more widely reported. If an entire batch is faulty, I would have expected other posts on SB, but I was surprised to see that I was the first one to report it. It's a shame that Tusa isn't being proactive about this (reaching out to dealers and letting them know of this issue, etc). For the price they charge for the mask, customers having to deal with this issue when on a dive trip is unacceptable.

 

[lexvil]

I am surprised the issue isn't more widely reported. If an entire batch is faulty, I would have expected other posts on SB, but I was surprised to see that I was the first one to report it. It's a shame that Tusa isn't being proactive about this (reaching out to dealers and letting them know of this issue, etc). For the price they charge for the mask, customers having to deal with this issue when on a dive trip is unacceptable.

There aren’t many SB user who will spend the $ for a Paragon mask, as I’ve said I’ve had two of them and found them to be excellent, I also had the freedom 50 (I think that was the name) that was wonderful in warm water but would leak like crazy in cold water. You just have to try them until you find one that works.

To eliminate and coatings try running a mask through the dishwasher making sure to turn off the heated drying. Make sure there is no hair near the sealing points and no greasy stuff like sunscreen on those surfaces.

Try MAKO masks, they will cost less and the maker will stand by it.