Snorkeling mask is one of the important parts of snorkeling equipment, which allows you to see the colorful underwater world. Choosing the right mask can also maximize your snorkeling experience.
Why do you need a snorkel mask
The most important reason to wear a mask when snorkeling is to protect our eyes and nose to avoid direct contact with seawater and reduce damage.
Also, we can see clearly in the air environment, but in the water everything appears blurry. This happens because of refraction. This means that in this case, light waves are deflected as they travel through media of different densities, such as air and water. Wearing a snorkel mask creates airspace in front of our eyes, allowing we to see better underwater! That way, even if we just go for a swim, It also allows us to see more clearly and prevents injury on slippery rocks, stepping on sea urchins or swimming in jellyfish.
Considerations when choosing
In fact, all snorkeling masks consist of these parts, a lens for viewing, a strap to hold it to the face, and a skirt that surrounds the lens to seal the air space. When we are picking out a snorkeling mask, we need to take a close look at the lenses, skirt, straps and other features of the mask to make sure it fits us.
Be sure to try it on before you buy it in store or after it arrives online, and make sure the snorkeling mask has these characteristics:
- lens
The lens of the snorkeling mask is mostly made of plastic or tempered glass. This is an important window for us to observe the surroundings, so it must be ensured that it can provide a clear vision.
Generally, ordinary snorkeling can choose a transparent flat lens made of high-definition high-quality PU resin, but the maintenance of this lens needs to be more meticulous. Compared to plastic, tempered glass appears to be stronger, more scratch-resistant, less scratches and cracks, and better able to withstand changes in water pressure. If it does break, it will also break into large pieces, not sharp pieces. This provides snorkelers with a better and safer diving experience.
Good peripheral vision is also an important consideration in selection. When we are trying on the snorkeling mask, move your head, if the lens makes you dizzy, don't hesitate to drop it inside. To prevent distortion of the field of view and eliminate underwater dizziness, we can choose a wider lens, which can provide a better, less harsh field of view.
While no lens is completely anti-fog, many manufacturers design lenses with low-fog properties. In order to prevent the mask from fogging, we also need to pay attention to these details:
- Make sure the mask is the right size. Too big or too small can easily cause leakage, seawater can irritate your eyes and nose, and even damage your vision.
- Reduce the number of exposures to water, do not put on and take off the mask frequently. The less the bladder is exposed to the outside air, the less condensation will form inside.
- Defog the mask before snorkeling, which is explained in another article of ours. https://norabidea.shop/blogs/swimming/ways-to-defog-your-maskThese anti-fog solutions can give us a better snorkeling experience.
- straps
The straps held the snorkel mask well on our head, which required them to have adjustable buckles so we could find the perfect fit. Similar to skirts, silicone straps will last longer and are less prone to brittleness or cracking. For those with more hair, choose thicker neoprene straps as they are more comfortable and reduce the chance of hair tangling.
- skirt
The skirt is the stretchy silicone part that comes into contact with our face, and if the mask skirt doesn't seal well, it's likely to leak, fog up, and even tire us out from frequent adjustments. The ideal skirt should look like this:
- The skirt has a certain elasticity and can be close to the edge of the face to form a good waterproof seal. Under normal circumstances, no water can enter the mask. If not, we may need to tread water frequently to fix leaks, which is more physically demanding than floating on the water.
- The skirt is relatively wide, and if it is wide enough, the contact area with the skin is larger and the sealing provided is better.
- In terms of production materials, silicone materials should be selected, because rubber materials are prone to aging and cracking over time. The silicone is colorless, odorless, environmentally friendly, and the material is very soft, making it more comfortable to wear.
- When we wear the mask for snorkeling, it can fit tightly on our face, no need to moreadjustments, avoid fogging by exposing the lens to the wet environment.
- drain valve
Some snorkeling masks have their own drain valves, such as full-face snorkeling masks, which are usually at the bottom of the mask. Although the top anti-wave valve can prevent seawater from pouring in from the top of the breathing tube, in case our mask accidentally enters the water, we do not need to take off the mask, and we can automatically drain it by raising our head.
Snorkeling mask types
There are generally three types of snorkeling masks, single lens snorkeling mask, two window snorkeling mask, and full face snorkeling mask. At the time of purchase, we can choose the most suitable style according to its characteristics and personal preferences.
- single lens snorkeling mask
This type of mask, usually made of one-piece tempered glass, has a soft and comfortable nose shield, but has no frame between the eyes and allows for a 180°panoramic view. It has become popular with snorkelers and divers in recent years because it offers a wider view.
This mask is also great for people who are just learning to swim, as it is common for beginners to choke due to stress while swimming. To prevent water from entering the nasal cavity, we highly recommend it for beginners.
- two window snorkeling mask
This type of mass has two separate lenses held together by a frame that allows the lenses to fit snugly against the face, helping to reduce internal volume for easier cleaning and balancing. But if you try a two window snorkeling mask, especially for people with a high nose bridge, you need to make sure that the middle frame does not squeeze the nose bridge.
There are some suppliers who design this type of lenses as prescription lenses, especially for snorkelers who need to wear glasses. Its two lenses can be replaced with corrective lenses for nearsightedness or farsightedness according to the needs of the user.
- full face snorkeling mask
This full face snorkeling mask has become very popular recently, especially for people who don't know how to breathe underwater. Those who cannot breathe through their mouths, or who have unnatural and difficult breathing through a snorkel, can no longer breathe when their head is underwater, so they cannot use traditional equipment. This mask covers the entire face and has a unique dual rebreathing system that allows them to breathe naturally through their mouth and nose, making it easy to snorkel.
Choose the best snorkeling mask
The ideal snorkeling mask varies from person to person, and the most important thing is to see if the mask fits our face shape. In addition to looking for the mask that provides the clearest and most comfortable vision, we should also confirm that the mask is durable and does not over-adjust while working.
Most importantly, test the mask for a secure seal against leaks. Before going on a beach vacation, be sure to test it out in a swimming pool or shallow water near the shore. If you feel heavy breathing or have any difficulty, take it off immediately to avoid accidents!