Mask Essentials

About your Mask

Your mask is an important piece of equipment for snorkeling and/or scuba diving, and the most personalized piece of gear. Masks are designed to create an air space for your eyes, allowing them to focus and see more clearly under water. The nose pocket allows you to pinch and equalize to relieve pressure as you swim below the surface. Picking the right mask is essential to having a good experience under the water. If your mask doesn’t fit well, you may experience constant adjustment, leaking, and fogging.

Mask Features

Flexible silicone skirts (Avoid stiff PVC and rubber skirts that can crack easily)
Strong tempered glass lenses
Nose and forehead clearance
Prescription lens compatibility
Adjustable straps
Skirt color (Black or clear are most common)
A one-way purge valve used to clear water from a mask

How to Fit Your Mask

With the strap out of the way, bring the mask to your face without applying any pressure. Make sure your hair is out of the way.
Check to see that the mask skirt rests evenly against your face. If it wobbles easily from left to right or up and down, there could be air gaps around the skirt seal. Ideally, the entire surface of the skirt should form gently to your face.
If you need to, use a finger to apply a little pressure so that the mask doesn’t fall. Inhale through your nose and you will know right away if there is enough suction or if there are any leaks. If there are no leaks, you have found a nice seal.
Adjust the strap so that it sits along the upper-back of your head, (careful that it’s not twisted) and pull the strap tabs on the sides tightly, but only enough to hold the mask in place. Pulling the straps too tight can cause additional pressure and discomfort on your face, requiring additional adjusting. It can also cause water to leak in through the skirt seal.

Adjust the Length of the Strap

When tightening the strap, please pull the outer strap in the direction of the arrow as shown in the first picture.

When loosening the strap, please pull the inner strap in the direction of the arrow as shown in the second picture.

If the mask has a buckle adjuster, either pull the buckle lever or pinch the buckle (depending on the type of buckle) and hold it while you pull the innner strap to loosen. The picture shows a pinch style buckle.

*Pictures have a mask in hand for explanation, but you can adjust the length of the strap while wearing it on the face.

5. Place the attached snorkel in your mouth to see how the mask's seal will respond to this change in your facial features.

7. Make sure you can pinch your nose to confirm you will be able to equalize sinus pressure underwater.

8. Don’t be afraid to try on multiple masks. The perfect mask might last you a lifetime with the proper care.

Mask Fogging up?

The silicone skirt can cause an off-gassing effect that results from the manufacturing of the mask. This causes the mask lens to accumulate a thin layer of silicone that will result in fogging if not treated properly. Scroll through for more tips.

Here's A Solution:

Before ever using your mask, treat the lenses. You only need to focus on the lens surface on the inside of the mask. The outside will never fog when underwater. The most popular method is to use common white toothpaste, dab some on your finger, and rub it on the lens surface. Then, rinse off the remaining toothpaste from the lens. To be safe, repeat these steps, drying the lens in between each application, 5 to 7 times.

Note:

You only want to follow this process if your lenses are made of glass. Any plastic lenses scratch very easily. Look for a sign that says "tempered glass" on your mask. A common reason for fogging is the temperature of the water. Your temporary fix will be to have some defog on-hand. These typically come in spray or gel forms, like our Super Anti-Fog Treatment.

View our Anti-Fog Treatment Here

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Care & Maintenance

∙Rinse your mask and snorkel in fresh water after each use and let them air-dry in a shaded area.

∙When storing, it’s best not to seal your mask in a box unless it is vented. It’s better for the mask to have some fresh air-flow. Completely sealing can cause mildew, molding and recurring fogging.

∙Another reason to store your mask in a box is to keep it hidden from bugs. Believe it or not, there are some bugs out there with an appetite for silicone.

∙Don’t let your mask sit in direct sunlight for prolonged periods of time. The sun, overtime, can cause silicone to dry out & crack.

∙Avoid storing with any of your neoprene gear to prevent any of the silicone parts from staining.

Some Final Notes...

Do not walk or run while wearing a mask on land.
Do not jump into the water while wearing your mask. (There is a possibility of cracking around water surface or rock, etc.)
You may be prohibited from using your mask in some swimming pool facilities. Please check before using.
Stop using your mask immediately if you find any defects or scratches. Check for the following:

▷Cracks and chipped marks on the lens surface. (It may be damaged even with a small impact)

▷Scratches and defects such as straps, skirts, frames, or buckles.

▷Unusual clearance between skirt, lens and frame.

▷Foreign matter in the drain valve.

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