I bought a pair of HydroOptix masks to try out in the pool this weekend. Prior to going to the pool I went and got a prescription for +3 contacts (I have 20/15 vision). My wife is naturally nearsighted with a -2.25 prescription, so she did not need contacts for the test. To be honest and fair - I did not wear the contacts when testing the mask. The primary reason for this is that, being new to wearing the little buggers, it takes me close to an hour to put one in. I didn't have it in me to fight with them yesterday morning.
My Results
Peripheral vision is incredible. The difference between the HydroOptix and my ScubaPro CrystalVu is significant to say the least. Beyond this, however, I had little love for the new toy. The mask is gigantic, and I had frequent issue with flooding and clearing issues. I found that it limited my mobility, as upside down or sideways positions regularly flooded the HydroOptix. Clearing it, even with two purge valves, is not all that easy as the water seems to pool in the center of the mask and some water always remained. It was worth a try, but it'll be going on eBay or here on the forum in the not too distant future. I offer no opinion on clarity as I chose not to wear contacts. I was judging the mask purely on ergonomics and peripheral vision, not on clarity of what I saw.
My Wife's Results
No glasses, no contacts, no problem! I don't think she even noticed the added peripheral vision so much as that it just worked. She seemed to have less flooding issues, although I did notice a lot of fogging problems (my observation, not hers) on her mask. She took to it like a fish to water, and while I don't see her throwing away or selling her CoolVu, I also don't see her putting in contacts before diving again. We have a winner!
Friend #1's Results
We brought my senior network architect down to the pool for a refresher. He hasn't been diving in about 15 years, so everything is new to him. After a few minutes in the pool I offered to let him try the HydroOptix. He fell in love with it immediately. He is near sighted and was not wearing contacts - I do not know his prescription but his comment was "Everything looks as sharp as HDTV".
Friend #2 - #4's Results
Three of our buddies who were also diving wanted to try it out. Bringing an HydroOptix mask to a pool session is an instant attraction to all the gearheads. One guy was wearing contacts that correct him back to 20/20, the other was mildly near sighted but did not know his prescription, and the last was far sighted. All of them immediately raved about the peripheral vision, but nearly as quickly complained that it was difficult to read their gauges. These results are not as useful, in my opinion, as none of these divers had prepared to wear the HO mask and being far sighted is the opposite of what the mask is intended to work with.
Conclusions
Bottom line is simple - dive it first and decide for yourself. Out of six divers we have one who was enthused (Friend #1), one who was happy not to wear contacts (my wife), three who had issues with visibility but were not properly prepared to wear the mask, and one who did not like the volume/flooding issues (me). Even if we narrow the sampling to the three original testers it still does not work for everyone. If HydroOptix gets around to making a version for us 20/20 chaps that resolves the flooding issue and is lower volume, I'll be the first in line to buy one. As the physics of the mask pretty much demand high volume, without serious changes to the purge system I won't be diving an HydroOptix mask again soon. My wife, however, will be sporting the fashionable Predator look with her new HydroOptix mask
My Results
Peripheral vision is incredible. The difference between the HydroOptix and my ScubaPro CrystalVu is significant to say the least. Beyond this, however, I had little love for the new toy. The mask is gigantic, and I had frequent issue with flooding and clearing issues. I found that it limited my mobility, as upside down or sideways positions regularly flooded the HydroOptix. Clearing it, even with two purge valves, is not all that easy as the water seems to pool in the center of the mask and some water always remained. It was worth a try, but it'll be going on eBay or here on the forum in the not too distant future. I offer no opinion on clarity as I chose not to wear contacts. I was judging the mask purely on ergonomics and peripheral vision, not on clarity of what I saw.
My Wife's Results
No glasses, no contacts, no problem! I don't think she even noticed the added peripheral vision so much as that it just worked. She seemed to have less flooding issues, although I did notice a lot of fogging problems (my observation, not hers) on her mask. She took to it like a fish to water, and while I don't see her throwing away or selling her CoolVu, I also don't see her putting in contacts before diving again. We have a winner!
Friend #1's Results
We brought my senior network architect down to the pool for a refresher. He hasn't been diving in about 15 years, so everything is new to him. After a few minutes in the pool I offered to let him try the HydroOptix. He fell in love with it immediately. He is near sighted and was not wearing contacts - I do not know his prescription but his comment was "Everything looks as sharp as HDTV".
Friend #2 - #4's Results
Three of our buddies who were also diving wanted to try it out. Bringing an HydroOptix mask to a pool session is an instant attraction to all the gearheads. One guy was wearing contacts that correct him back to 20/20, the other was mildly near sighted but did not know his prescription, and the last was far sighted. All of them immediately raved about the peripheral vision, but nearly as quickly complained that it was difficult to read their gauges. These results are not as useful, in my opinion, as none of these divers had prepared to wear the HO mask and being far sighted is the opposite of what the mask is intended to work with.
Conclusions
Bottom line is simple - dive it first and decide for yourself. Out of six divers we have one who was enthused (Friend #1), one who was happy not to wear contacts (my wife), three who had issues with visibility but were not properly prepared to wear the mask, and one who did not like the volume/flooding issues (me). Even if we narrow the sampling to the three original testers it still does not work for everyone. If HydroOptix gets around to making a version for us 20/20 chaps that resolves the flooding issue and is lower volume, I'll be the first in line to buy one. As the physics of the mask pretty much demand high volume, without serious changes to the purge system I won't be diving an HydroOptix mask again soon. My wife, however, will be sporting the fashionable Predator look with her new HydroOptix mask
