The Best Scuba Diving Masks | To See or not to Sea

The Best Scuba Diving Masks | To See or Not to Sea

Alongside fins, a scuba mask is the first piece of diving gear that you will purchase. This makes good sense. Divers’ faces are all different shapes and sizes, eye strengths and weaknesses vary, and nose size can range from a hefty Rhinal preponderance to a wee button that needs some serious exploration to enable a good pinch. 

There is an increasing number of mask types, shapes, lenses, colours and weights to choose from. Scuba equipment manufacturers want you to trade in your black-on-black, forever Scubapro mask for a new, shiny one that matches your knee-high socks, powder-pink regulator, and creates more waste. So, what is actually essential?

If you cannot see anything while scuba diving, then what is the point? I know, I know, I am going to spit, burn with a lighter, spray with unnecessary defog, and pull the strap on my polarised Gull mask, so tight, I’ll look like Batman after a dive because it looks so damn hot with my side-mount set up. Meanwhile, spend half the dive practising mask clearing, as these masks are solid-framed and relatively wide.

Nothing wrong with that if it tickles your fancy. We are not here to judge. There is a myriad of different reasons to scuba dive, and if endlessly practising Open Water skills instead of checking out the cute tiny frogfish is yours, then so be it.

However, personally, I am okay with grabbing my black, 20-year-old Scubapro mask, which has sat securely on my face without complaint for thousands of dives. It will undoubtedly outlast the wavering strength of my eyes.

Here are a few key considerations when purchasing the best scuba diving mask, along with some helpful tips on how to keep it as your trusted companion.

Types of Masks | Goggles for Days

Gone are the days when a scuba mask was a round pane of glass with a rubber skirt pulled tight on your face by a rubber band that would perish rapidly, having the whole kit and kaboodle leak faster than Julian Assange.

Nowadays, there are many different types of lenses, skirtings, and mask straps, which can make your head spin like a sub-aquatic exorcism. So, let’s dive into the main construction differences of the best scuba diving masks.

Lens Construction

Most lenses will be made from tempered glass. This is due to its strength and resistance to scratching and changes in pressure. This is particularly important for those who prefer to have their precious mask banging around in their gear bag against metal d-rings, pointers, reef hooks and the like. Durability is the key.

You may come across polycarbonate lenses, which are lightweight, durable, and less expensive than their tempered glass counterparts. What should you consider? Tempered glass is generally more resistant to scratching than polycarbonate, and unless you are diving for a hugely extended period, the minimal difference in weight is negligible; glass is the gold standard.

Dual Lens | Twin Lens

Got it in one! A dual lens mask features two lenses separated by a nosepiece made of silicone and a plastic bridge. A dual lens mask is often cheaper than a single lens, sturdier, and is what you’ll need if you plan to add prescription lenses later on.

Given the slightly lower volume, the dual mask is often easier to clear and equalise, making it ideal for student divers. Unless you are an instructor who loves repeating mask-clearing skills, these masks should probably make up the bulk of the dive shops’ rental options. Additionally, if one lens gets cracked, perhaps by an errant student’s dropped weight, the mask may still be salvageable.

The only real bugbear here is that your vision can be slightly impeded by whatever the manufacturer has divided the two lenses with. This led to the birth of the Mares X Vision series of masks, as well as the now incredibly popular single-lens scuba mask. Notwithstanding, of course, those first masks that looked like a glass pot lid on a rubber hair tie and part of James Bond’s scuba diving attire. These are now considered ‘retro chic’ and quite popular with merpeople and the models of underwater photographers.

Single lens | The Mono Goggle

Yes, you’re on a roll; I can tell. The single lens was primarily introduced to increase the field of vision, thanks to the lack of a divider over the bridge of the nose, and has become the common standard these days.

These babies have fewer bits to prod you in the face, making things more comfortable under pressure. For those with an equine snoz, these can be a real lifesaver. The single-lens mask eventually evolved into the frameless variety, which is even lighter and has a lower volume.

There are a couple of downsides to this type of monogamy of a mask lens. Firstly, you won’t be able to use prescription lenses. Secondly, they can be prone to leakage on narrower-faced divers.

My Scubapro single-lens, frameless mask has been my favourite piece of dive gear for what feels like forever. Unlike marriage, it keeps getting better and better while also exuding the right amount of menace, should an errant dive student require an underwater scowl.

Panoramic Masks | All Around Goggles

With the ever-present need to sell more stuff, manufacturers were unable to rest at the single-lens scuba mask. With a bit of tinkering and a few too many cocktails in the creative process, the menace of the panoramic mask was conceived. 

Like the love child of a fishbowl and a click-clack Tupperware container, this beast is marketed to divers whose eyeballs can comfortably roll to places they probably shouldn’t. A chunky, large volume, easy to flood, difficult to clear mask that was the bain, especially of dive instructors, after the roll of the century.

The panoramic mask features an additional lens on each side, positioning the primary lens further away from the eye. Creating a whole lot more air space for pressure to crush and to fill with seawater.

Theoretically, they are a nice idea, but in practice, they are more trouble than they are worth. But, again, each to their own, these may work for you.

Full face | Moon Goggles

This name is also a slight giveaway. Primarily used by the technical or commercial diving crowd, these masks are not well-suited for recreational diving or diving for enjoyment. Whilst being necessary for journeys to the depths to poke at a wreck or swing from a cable. For those who are scuba diving for enjoyment, flipping between the reef and a relaxing surface interval on the boat. Cramming your noggin in and out of a bowling ball may seem hilarious and misplaced.

Self-Equalising Masks | Super Goggles 

This little treat of an invention is marketed at those who cannot find their nose and for divers whose fingers are too busy to pinch it. Unfortunately, it adds a whole new area of possible trauma, where something could go wrong and just be a pain in the Auricle.

These work by fitting a sealed pocket over both your ears, which, with three Hail Marys and a bow to the east, should ensure a watertight seal. There is then a tube running from the main area back to those pockets to equalise the internal pressure.

They sound like a gift from Neptune, but invariably, I have seen them leak, get tangled, and are mostly given up on in favour of a single-lens winner.

Mask Sizes | Size Does Matter

Just like your favourite pair of socks, scuba masks also come in a range of sizes. These are generally categorised as junior, small, medium, and large. Unless you look forward to an hour of salt in the eyeballs, it is crucial to ensure the mask you are buying is the correct fit for your face. 

Go for fit first. Your size may not have the baby-blue framed, fire-gold, polarised, reflective lens. However, if you cannot see the length of a vegan loaf due to water in your eyes, it is worth sacrificing your Instagram dreams. You won’t know whether those are tears or the ocean filling up the oculars.

Fitting your Mask | Who Knows Nose

So, how do you know if your scuba mask fits your face and is not likely to leak? The tried-and-true method is to place the mask on your face without the strap. You then inhale through your nose, drop your hands away, and see if the mask remains where you put it.

If the mask remains stuck to your scone, it means the seal is intact and should not leak underwater, save for a stray strand of hair, a handsome Magnum moustache, or a constant puffing from the nose.

I Can See Clearly Now | The Prophylactic  Layer is Gone

You have now chosen your mask and checked that it seals properly. The mask strap has been adjusted for a snug fit and you have ensured it sits above your ears. You may even have trimmed your hirsute lip. Now you jump in, and all is good for a couple of minutes, then kapow! The fog rolls in. You are looking at corals and fish through a sultry soft focus whilst sitting in a cloud. No amount of letting water into the mask and clearing it works, even though you are hard at it every minute or so. What on earth is going on? How did you end up here?

Many mask manufacturers put a transparent protective layer on the lens, which keeps it in pristine condition throughout the bumps of travel and while sitting on an equipment retailer’s shelves.

This dastardly preventative layer, while great at preserving your lenses outside of the water, manages to make all the hot air escaping from your nostrils become clouds of despair whilst under it.

The goal is to remove it as much as possible before diving. You can do this by giving the lens a thorough, soapy wash. Using something mildly abrasive, such as old-school toothpaste or even a lighter. If lighters are allowed, by the time I’m finished writing this, you can use one to gently burn away the innocuous prophylactic.

Greener the Cleaner, Whiter the Brighter

Ahh, this well-worn adage was made a hundred times more brutal by the smoking dive instructor back in the days when smoking actually had smoke. The truth is, it really does work. So, allow your ice-white first stage and Mew fins to belie the fact that you are a first-class loogie hocker, and you will be forever happy underwater.

Rub your best saliva enterprise all around your mask lens, and give it a good rinse. You’ll never have to waste money on an expensive, chemical, mask defogger again.

Mask Straps | Sand in my Velcro

The standard mask strap, which comes with your mask, not only makes itself known with a good hair pull every now and then but can also be annoyingly difficult for some scuba divers to adjust. I recommend investing in a mask strap cover to save your hair or a cover with Velcro straps to make adjustments even easier. Be warned, just like a good budgie smuggler, sand in the velcro is never a winner.

Care for Your Mask | Box the Goggle

So, you’ve chosen a mask that fits your face snugly, and you’ve decided to get a mask strap cover to make it easier to put on and take off. You have begun to take care of the film in the lens, and now you really should find a way to keep it safe.

Most masks will come with a plastic box to keep them in. Please don’t dismiss this; use it. If you find another place to safely store your mask, the box still comes in handy to store various items, such as dive computers and camera attachments.

When you are out of the water, you can clip your mask to your BCD clip. This makes sure it doesn’t drop on the deck or the ground and get trampled.

Make sure to rinse your mask thoroughly after diving, as this will help protect the silicone seal from hardening due to the salt water. A poorly fitting mask seal will cause you no end of heartache, tears and leaks in the future.

Silicone Sadists | Keep it Covered

The nasty aftermath of a cockroach mask seal chow down, on Xin’s new mask

When you are in the tropics, it pays to remember that cockroaches like to eat silicone. These hungry bugs will sneak into your gear bag at night and feast on the seal of your mask. It’s not your usual nighttime craving, I imagine, but they love it. This phenomenon has caused the despair of many divemaster candidates in Southeast Asia. So keep your mask in something with a good, tight seal.

Extra Scuba Mask Tips| The Best Scuba Diving Masks

Here are a few extra thoughts about scuba diving masks:

Nose pieces: Ensure you can pinch your nose easily. Whether it’s a pronounced honker, a subtle button, or somewhere in between, different lens designs can affect your access to the nose.

Silicone colour: This is a personal thing. Some prefer the extra light coming through, while others like it to be blocked out so they can focus on what is in front of them. I prefer the black silicone; maybe you’d like the transparent seal.

Prescription masks: If your eyesight is not that weak, you may not need these, as objects are magnified underwater due to refraction. If you do use them, you may need to wear your mask all the way back to where you have a pair of specs waiting for you, such as the dive shop or the boat. In this case, contact lenses may be the best choice.

Contact lenses: Yes, you can wear them with a scuba mask and even underwater.

Freediving masks: These may look cool, but they are also very low-volume. This means that things won’t appear as magnified underwater, and you may start bumping into corals and other objects you shouldn’t until you become accustomed to them.

Different lens coatings: Although they may seem a little gimmicky, they can help reduce glare and, in some instances, improve visibility underwater. Definitely don’t base your mask choice on the latest funky lens colour.

To Wrap it Up

Over your scuba diving life, you will probably purchase lots of paraphernalia: the mainstays plus the dingly dangly attachments. You know the squeaky rubber duck that is tied to your tank valve. However, you are scuba diving to see the underwater world, and as long as that applies, finding the best scuba diving mask for you is crucial. Once you find it, keep it well, and it will last you a lifetime.

Written By:

Brett Robertson

(Diver and Vegan)

PADI Platinum Course Director | Dive educator | Dive resort and liveaboard owner | Vegan advocate for conservation projects and plant-based lifestyles, and a burgeoning serial runner.

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