Best Scuba Diving Masks – Reviews and Buying Advice (2023)
It makes a lot of sense to own your dive mask. It will fit comfortably, and you know it won’t leak because you take care of it yourself. In case you need prescription lenses in your dive mask you won’t have a choice anyway but to buy your own. No matter the reason, you want to get the top-rated dive goggles. Below is our advice on scuba goggles and what the best scuba diving masks are.
Owning a scuba diving mask is in our opinion essential if you dive regularly. While you certainly can rent one, you will more often than not have to find out that the dive mask doesn’t fit or leaks. This can put a big damper on your dive trip.
Below you’ll find the ten best dive masks. There’s not a single best scuba diving mask that outshines all others. Each has its strengths and weaknesses, and we try to highlight this for you.
There are some factors you should consider before buying one of the best scuba dive masks. These factors include:
- Single lens masks, dual-lens masks, or masks with multiple lenses
- Frame or Frameless Design
- Adjustments through straps and buckles
- Mask skirt
- Overall Fit
Let’s go over the essential features you should consider first. Then have a look at each of the masks we suggest to get and finally, we’ll answer a few questions you might have. If you want to jump to any of the different sections, then please use the Table of Contents above to get to the part you’re interested in quickly!
Best Masks for Scuba Diving
- Scubapro Synergy2 Trufit – Best Dive Mask for Regular Diver
- Mares i3 Liquidskin – Dive Mask with Clearest View
- Atomic Aquatics Venom – Best Dive Mask for Semiprofessional Divers
- Mares X-Vision LiquidSkin – Best All-Around Dive Mask
- ScubaPro Spectra Trufit – Best Mid-Range Dive Mask
- Cressi F1 – Best Dive Mask for Beginners
- Aqua Lung Impression – Best Affordable Dive Mask
- Cressi Big Eyes Evolution – The Dive Mask for Underwater Sightseeing
- Octomask – Best for Shooting Underwater Video
- Tusa M1001 Freedom HD – Best for (Largest/Widest) Field of View
Scuba Diving Mask Buyers Guide
Buying a new dive mask is not as easy as it might sound. There are quite a few things to consider before you make the decision and purchase.
We compiled an overview of the most important considerations in our comprehensive Scuba Mask Buying Guide. Check it out if you need more guidance on whether you need a mask that’s frameless, has a purge valve, etc.
There are a few things you need to consider when you’re out buying a scuba mask. The most important is that you get a dive mask in the color you like best. Just kidding…
The 10 Best Scuba Diving Masks in 2023
Let’s jump right into the detailed reviews for each dive mask in our list of the best dive masks. At the end of this article, you can also find our Scuba Dive Mask Buyers Guide for further information about what you should consider when looking for a diving mask.
#1 – Scubapro Synergy2 Trufit – Best for the Regular Diver
Scubapro is one of the most recognized brands in diving. Their gear is outstanding and reasonably priced.
The Scubapro Synergy 2 Trufit dive mask is no exception. It offers two high-quality silicone skirts. The inner silicone skirt is soft and provides an exceptional fit and seal against the skin. The outer, more rigid silicone skirt is thicker and provides the support and rigidity needed around the dive mask frame.
The Scubapro Synergy Trufit is a low-volume mask that offers an outstanding field of view. The buckles attach to flexible tabs on the silicone skirt allowing for better adjustments and fewer pressure points. The buckles and strap system received praise from many divers. The buckles and attachment points are designed to fold flat, so you need less space in your luggage when traveling.
The Scubapro Synergy Trufit scuba mask comes in a dual-lens or single-lens design. You can get it with clear or mirrored glasses. While the mirrored glass look is undoubtedly cooler and can help with reflections, do not forget that it might be harder to see your eyes in the case of an emergency.
The tempered glass of the Scubapro Synergy is designed to provide exceptional clarity and features high light transmission. It is specifically designed not to have any color distortion which results in ultra-clear visibility underwater.
| Ideal for | Scuba enthusiasts that regularly dive |
| Lens | Single and Dual Lens models are available |
| Price | $$ |
Best Features
- Superb fit
- Ultra-clear glass lenses
What Could Have Been Better
- Mirrored glasses might make it hard to see your eyes in case of emergencies
Summary
The Scubapro Synergy 2 Trufit is an outstanding scuba mask. It’s one of the most comfortable masks available. Pricing is average, yet the quality of the Scubapro Synergy justifies the price point. A great dive mask overall for a diver that regularly has a chance to dive.
#2 – Mares i3 Liquidskin – Best for Clear Visibility
The Mares i3 Liquidskin is a panoramic mask. It features three different lenses where you have a single front lens and then one lens each on the left and right. This dramatically improves peripheral vision and field of view compared to other masks. It’s not necessarily a low-volume type of mask but it’s also not super-high in volume.
The skirt consists of two different types of silicone. The area around the frame is firmer to add stability. The skirt that touches your face is made of softer silicone which provides a perfect fit and prevents leakage. Mares employs Tri-Comfort Technology which is a more elastic silicone around the area of the forehead and nose for even more comfort.
The buckles attach to the silicone skirt and not the frame. This allows for a more comfortable fit due to the reduced pressure of the frame against the face.
The tempered glass is clear and the side glasses significantly improve visibility and your field of view. If you use the mask for snorkeling or merely want the larger field of vision, then make sure to pick a color with clear silicone skirt material instead of the black one. This will additionally enhance the visibility up and down.
| Ideal for | Divers that want/need to have a large visible area |
| Lens | Three lenses overall |
| Price | $$ |
Best Features
- Panoramic views
- Comfortable wear
What Could Have Been Better
- Divers have reported that buckles can break
Summary
The Mares i3 is a scuba mask with a superbly wide field of vision. The two windows on the sides allow for a panoramic view of the sea life and seascape underneath and beside you. An excellent mask for diving and snorkeling in clear visibility.
#3 – Atomic Aquatics Venom – Best Mask for Scuba Diving for the Semiprofessional
The Atomic Aquatics Venom Mask is one of the most expensive and possibly one of the best scuba masks you can lay your eyes on. It’s a unique mix of a mask that has a sub-frame and one that is also a frameless design. There is an internal frame that acts very much like a sub-frame. It is molded directly beneath the surface of the silicone skirt. This provides rigidity yet features a reasonably low profile of a frameless mask to reduce the air space in the mask.
The silicone used for the skirt is nicknamed ‘Gummi Bear’ silicone. It’s super flexible and adjusts to the contours of your skin. Many men that have mustaches or beards swear on this mask as it is leakage-free even in those cases. Similar to the Scubapro Trufit the skirt consists of two different silicones. A rigid variant around the frame and a super-soft one where it touches your skin.
The straps attach to buckles that need to be squeezed for attachment. This makes it easy to use. The fasteners are mounted onto the skirt providing superior adjustment capabilities with increased comfort and fit. They are soft-mounted on the silicone skirt allowing them to be folded flat when you pack them.
Other high-end scuba masks use ultra-clear glass to avoid color distortion underwater. The Venom goes one step further. It uses Superwhite glass from the German glass manufacturer Schott. This allows even more light to penetrate providing extraordinary vision underwater. It’s probably the best glasses you can find in any dive mask to date.
Additionally, the tempered glass features an anti-reflective coating (ARC). This allows even more light into the mask and reduces glare and reflection. This technology can only be found on Atomic Aquatics masks. The outcome is a dramatically increased transmission of light into the mask compared to many other masks on the market.
| Ideal for | The highest end mask there is… |
| Lens | Single Lens |
| Price | $$$ |
Best Features
- Excellent fit and comfort
- Clearest glass available for outstanding visibility
What Could Have Been Better
- The price. The most expensive mask of all in this list.
Summary
There’s no denying it. The Atomic Aquatics Venom is the most expensive scuba mask on our best-of list. However, it is also the best scuba mask, period. The glass is clearer than clear and it’s a pleasure to wear. If you dive often and for long times then this is the mask for you.
#4 – Mares X-Vision LiquidSkin – Best All-Around Mask
The Mares X-Vision mask offers Mares LiquidSkin technology in a dual-lens design. LiquidSkin practically describes a skirt consisting of two different silicones. A stiffer and more rigid silicone around the frame to provide for the stability required of a mask. The second part is soft liquid silicone skirt that molds to your face providing exceptional comfort and a tight seal.
The Tri-Comfort Technology featured by Mares masks provides an additional softer silicone layer around the forehead and nose. This makes the mask overall more comfortable to wear and relieves pressure from these specific areas on your face.
The buckles and straps are easy to use and allow for a wide range of adjustments. The fasteners mount to the silicone skirt which provides a tighter fit with less pressure on your face. This mounting also allows for a lower profile and volume of the mask. The low-volume mask makes it easier to clear the mask underwater.
The overall mask design provides a wide field of vision. If you choose a mask with clear silicone instead of black you increase the visibility even more. The mask provides an easy to squeeze nose well that allows equalizing pressure. It’s an innovative mask that is a great fit for recreational divers.
| Ideal for | Great all-around mask for the recreational diver |
| Lens | Dual Lenses |
| Price | $$ |
Best Features
- Very comfortable to wear
- A large visible field
What Could Have Been Better
- Straps and buckles could be of slightly higher quality and more sturdy.
Summary
The Mares X-VU LiquidSkin is a solid scuba mask for a reasonable price. The LiquidSkin in combination with the Tri-Comfort technology makes this one of the most comfortable to wear masks.
#5 – ScubaPro Spectra Trufit – Best mid-range Mask
The Scubapro Spectra uses the same Trufit technology as can also be found on many other models. The skirt consists of two different variants of silicone to provide a watertight seal. A stiffer one around the frame to add support and stability and a softer silicone to provide a tight seal on your face. Such double seals provides a tighter fit with less chance of leakage.
The silicone skirt is designed with contoured textured ribs that adjust to nearly any size and shape of the face. This practically guarantees a superb fit for any form of the head.
The easy to adjust swivel buckle system is mounted on the skirt for a tighter fit and more comfortable wear. This results in a low-profile and low-volume mask that is easy to travel with. The strap adjustment swivels are large enough to allow you to adjust them easily.
It is a mask with two tempered glass lenses made from ultra-clear glass. The design offers a superb visible area specifically when you look down. The teardrop-shaped lenses of the lenses allows for excellent visibility of reefs and other sights underneath you.
You can find corrective lenses for the ScubaPro Spectra. This enables divers who need corrective lenses to experience the underwater sights without having to use contact lenses that might get lost during a dive.
This is overall one of the best diving masks you can buy. Not as expensive as some other models yet reliable with the highest quality materials and build.
| Ideal for | Recreational divers that regularly dive in a variety of conditions |
| Lens | Dual Lenses |
| Price | $$ |
Best Features
- High-quality build and components
- Great visibility through ultra-clear glasses
- Easy clearing due to low-volume
What Could Have Been Better
- Mask is a little small when you have a large head.
Summary
The Scubapro Spectra features Trufit which makes for a very comfortable fit. It’s an excellent low-volume scuba mask for divers that regularly and want a high-quality item. It might be a little too small if you have a large head. The fit can become uncomfortable and you might be better off with other masks.
#6 – Cressi F1 – Best for Beginners
The Cressi F1 Frameless Mask is genuinely one of the best masks available. It’s very affordable yet offers good quality as you would expect from a mask built by Cressi. It’s a single lens design and the tempered glass provides exceptional clarity underwater.
The F1 has a high-grade silicone skirt which has a double feathered edge for a tight fit to your face. The skirt is directly bonded to the single tempered glass lens. Being a frameless mask the Cressi F1 is a low internal volume mask that’s easy to handle. It also folds flat for easy storage and travel.
The skirt is made of flexible silicone and the mask provides a tight fit with your face. The nose pocket can easily be accessed even with gloves on your hands. It’s designed to allow for ear equalization with one hand.
The quick-adjust strap buckles are directly molded into the skirt. This allows for a more comfortable fit and less pressure on your face. The straps also fit tighter around your head which improves the tightness of the fit and reduces the possibility of leaks.
| Ideal for | Excellent and affordable mask for beginners |
| Lens | Single Lens |
| Price | $ |
Best Features
- Great quality for the price
- A broader field of view
- Low-volume design
What Could Have Been Better
- Too tight against the face for some.
- Buckles and straps can break.
Summary
The Cressi F1 dive mask is an easy to use frameless design scuba mask that offers excellent quality and features for the price. It’s one of the most-sold scuba masks available and is perfect for beginners and recreational divers. You might look at some other masks if you dive a lot and have grown out of the beginning stages of diving.
#7 – Aqua Lung Impression – Best Affordable Mask
The Aqua Lung Impression is another highly rated mask that comes at an affordable price point. It offers the latest technology in its design and manufacturing. Where other masks are molded and snapped together in different stages, the Impression’s Lens, Frame, and Skirt are molded together in one single step. This ensures a leak-free seal between all the parts.
This method also allowed to design the mask with the lowest volume possible. This allows placing the tempered glass lenses closer to the face which helps to maximize the field of vision. It also reduces buoyancy, and it is easier to clear. Overall, this is one of the best low-volume masks for scuba diving. The internal volume of the mask is reduced to the bare minimum.
The mask sports two lenses which optimize visibility underwater. The combination of the tempered glass with the closeness of them to the eye dramatically improves your ability to see underwater.
The mask is made around a soft silicone skirt. It is designed with double feathered edges. Together with the wide split strap, it results in an extremely tight fit with the best level of leak avoidance. The straps connect to the skirt which allows for a more comfortable and tighter fit with less pressure.
Aqua Lung uses their Advanced Fit Technology (AFT) which uses different silicones and textures around the skirt edge. This allows the skirt to reach farther to the back and create a larger area where it fits onto the skin. The increased contact surface results in a more comfortable fit with less pressure.
The nose pocket is designed to be accessible with one hand. This allows for ear equalization even with thick gloves.
| Ideal for | Solid mask for any dive situation |
| Lens | Dual Lenses |
| Price | $$ |
Best Features
- Great fit with Advanced Fit Technology
- Extremely low profile mask
- Low internal volume for easy clearing
What Could Have Been Better
- Mask could be a little hard to adjust and fit comfortably for large heads.
Summary
The Aqua Lung Impression is a great overall scuba mask. It’s priced reasonably and offers excellent value. It offers a very low volume to reduce any impact on buoyancy. Some divers prefer a little more volume as the lenses get close to your eyes with low internal volume design. The fit of the mask is great, but it might be a little small for large heads. Otherwise, you can’t go wrong with this mask.
#8 – Cressi Big Eyes Evolution – Best for Underwater Sightseeing
The Cressi Big Eyes Evolution is precisely what the name says. It’s a mask with quite large lenses allowing great visibility underwater. The inverted teardrop shape of the lenses allows for a large visible field. In combination with the crystal clear glass, it will enable the maximum amount of light to penetrate.
Concerning your face, the tempered glass lens of the mask is inclined. The result is that the lens is closer to your face and eyes. This, in turn, results in a wider field of vision at the bottom which lets you see more sea life underneath you.
The Big Eyes Evolution uses Cressi’s Integrated Dual Frame technology. Two rigid frames are joined to provide rigidity and reduce air space in the mask.
The mask is made from a specific hypoallergenic soft silicone. This material is providing a superb fit and is very comfortable. Cressi calls this material ‘High Seal.’ The skirt is specifically designed to fit your face and in combination with the soft silicone will not leave any marks on your face even after prolonged use.
The buckles are mounted not directly onto the skirt but onto an elastic element on the vertical plane. Due to this design, they can be bent sideways up to 180 degrees. This way it reduces the pressure on the face and frame and allows for a much tighter fit. The buckle has a full range of motion and allows for easy adjustment. For travel and to store you can fold the mask flat as it has a frameless design.
The skirt is designed with a double feathered edge that fits tight to the skin and prevents leakage. The nose pocket is intended to be handled with one hand. Even with gloves, you can get ear equalization easily with the use of one hand.
Cressi designed the mask so that the lenses can be replaced with vision correction optical lenses. These prescription lenses can be ordered separately. It is easy to replace the existing lenses with prescription lenses yourself.
| Ideal for | Underwater sightseeing |
| Lens | Dual Lenses |
| Price | $ |
Best Features
- A wide field of view
- Can be fitted with prescription lenses
What Could Have Been Better
- Fogs easily due to relatively large build
Summary
The Cressi Big Eyes Evolution is an excellent mask for diving and snorkeling in clear water. The large tempered glass lenses allow for a lot of light to penetrate and increase the visible field. All in all an excellent scuba mask for underwater sightseeing!
#9 – Octomask – Best for Underwater Video
The Octomask is a unique mask as it comes with a mount for a GoPro camera. You can shoot incredible videos while you dive without the need to hold a camera in your hands. It’s one of the best diving masks when you need to attach an action camera for underwater videography.
The mask itself is a solidly built diving mask. One would be somewhat skeptical assuming that the only thing good about this mask is the built-in mount, but that’s far from the truth.
The mask has tempered glass lenses and due to the low internal volume is considered a low-volume mask. It comes in two configurations, either with a single lens or with dual lenses. Both variants offer a wide field of view.
The skirt is made out of soft silicone and provides a tight fit. It also is quite comfortable to wear and offers a good seal.
The low volume design results in a close and snug fit. It also allows for easy clearing and reduces buoyancy.
The skirt fits tight, and the straps and buckles are attached to the skirt. The straps are easily adjusted and you will get a tight fit between the mask and your face.
The mount for the GoPro fits all different models including the Hero 3, 4, 5, and 6 models as well as smaller Session cameras. There are a few things to consider when you’re diving with a GoPro mounted to your mask.
First, you want to stay as horizontal as possible. Otherwise, the bubbles will go in front of the camera and screw up your video.
An elementary mistake is also to think that you have the camera running, but it is not on. Check it yourself before putting the mask on and then have somebody else double-check it before you go in the water! Nothing worse than expecting a great video from your dive and the camera isn’t switched on…
The Octomask is a great mask if you intend to shoot video. Otherwise, there are better masks for diving, but there’s no mask better when you want to shoot a video while having your hands free.
| Ideal for | Any diver wanting to shoot video with a GoPro camera |
| Lens | Single or Dual Lenses models are available |
| Price | $ |
Best Features
- Good quality and a good fit
- Built-in mount for GoPro camera
What Could Have Been Better
- Some complaints about a non-sufficient seal can be found.
Summary
The Octomask might not be the best scuba mask on the planet. It’s a good scuba dive mask overall and the most significant advantage is that you can mount your GoPro camera right onto it. If you want to shoot video footage, then there’s no alternative if you’re going to keep your hands free.
#10 -Tusa M1001 Freedom HD – Largest Field of View
The Tusa M1001 Freedom HD mask shines with a large single lens. This single-lens mask is quite a bit larger than most other masks. The result, as you can imagine, is a wide field of view. The glass itself is super clear and you’ll be surprised how much more you can see underwater!
The skirt consists of soft silicone. It provides a tight fit to your face. The mask is a frameless design and the glass sits close to your eyes. Despite the large tempered glass lens that provides a large field of view, this is a low-volume mask. It’s easy to clear due to the low internal volume.
The buckles can rotate 180 degrees and have proven to be very sturdy. They are easy to use and adjustment of the straps is made without complications.
The nose pocket is designed to be managed with one hand. You can get ear equalization with ease even if you wear thick gloves.
| Ideal for | Divers that want a large field of view when diving |
| Lens | Single Lens |
| Price | $ |
Best Features
- Large lens
- A huge field of view
What Could Have Been Better
- Some rare complaints about fogging up.
Summary
The Tusa M1001 Freedom HD mask has a huge lens. It’s also a rather large scuba mask overall fitting pretty much any size of head. The visibility out of this mask is just amazing.
Questions you might have about Diving Masks
My mask constantly leaks. What can I do to stop that?
There are many reasons why a mask might leak. Even the best scuba diving masks can leak!
One of the most common ones is that the straps on your dive mask are tightened too much. It might sound strange that you can prevent your dive mask from leaking by loosening the mask strap but when you think about it, it does make sense.
If your straps are too tight, it pulls the dive mask too hard against your face. This squeezes the skirt and prevents a tight seal.
The straps should only keep the dive mask from falling off your face. They are not there to make a seal. The seal is produced through the feathered edge of the skirt adhering to your skin.
If your dive mask leaks because the strap is too tight, then tightening it even more will result in even more leakage. When you end your dive and your mask and skirt leaves an indentation around your face, then you most likely had the strap too tight!
Many divers end up tightening the straps too much as a somewhat loose strap can move around when you enter the water. If that’s the case, then hold the strap on the back of your head when you go into the water to ensure it stays in place.
If your leakage is severe and not related to straps being too tight, then it might just not be the right fitting mask for you. In this case, you might have to invest in a new one that fits your face better.
I have a beard and I can’t get a tight seal. What can I do?
Facial hair is often the cause of a lot of headaches when it comes to getting a seal against your face. The hair will get caught between the skirt and the skin. Water can and will get into the dive mask this way.
There are some things you can do though. First, you can shave a small area of your face where the seal hits the skin to prevent any hair from being in the way in those areas.
Another possibility is to use silicone paste that you put on your beard hair. It’ll allow the skirt to produce a tighter seal against your skin and beard, but it usually is not a correctly working solution.
Some masks are better or worse if you have a beard. We have collected more information in our post on the best masks for snorkeling and scuba diving when you have a mustache!
Is a transparent or colored skirt better?
For the most part, that’s up to you and what you prefer. Both types work very well and have good and not so good features about them.
A transparent skirt on your dive mask can help if you have some level of claustrophobia. Being able to at least somewhat look through the skirt provides a more open feel and does increase your peripheral vision. This can be helpful in any case if you are in darker environments or murky water.
A colored, usually black, skirt, on the other hand, can help with reducing glare. If you dive a lot in shallow, sunny waters then the glare from the sunlight can get distracting and annoying. Most underwater photographers use a dark skirt to eliminate any glare while taking pictures.
Is it better to have silicone or neoprene straps?
Many, if not most scuba diving masks come with silicone straps. If they are not wide enough then your hair may get tangled. They also can be problematic to adjust underwater if you’re wearing gloves.
Neoprene straps, on the other hand, are softer and more comfortable. They are easier to adjust underwater, and hair does not get tangled in them.
Why should I pick a low profile mask?
A dive mask with a low volume design traps less air inside compared to one with a high volume. The air inside the dive mask will impact your buoyancy as it wants to drag you to the surface. Having a low profile mask also makes it easy to clear the mask.
This might overall not have a significant impact on most recreational divers. Using a low volume design mask does become a real issue if you’re freediving.
That doesn’t mean that high volume masks are worse than low volume design masks. They have one significant advantage. The larger volume variants provide a better peripheral vision and feel a little less cramped.
With a low volume design mask that is easy to clear, you do have the lenses sitting very close to your eyes. That does allow you to clear out any water much, but it also can be an issue if you are claustrophobic in any way! Most modern scuba diving masks feature a low volume design.
What can you do when you have bad vision?
Not surprisingly, a lot of divers wear eyeglasses. One thing they can’t do is wear their glasses with a scuba mask. You will not be able to get a seal between the dive mask and your skin over the frame.
Contrary to what you might expect, farsightedness is often less of a problem than nearsightedness. While nearsightedness prevents you from clearly seeing things in the distance which might often make your dive not very enjoyable, farsightedness prevents you from seeing things closeup in focus. This means that you might not be able to read your dive computer screen and other gauges.
If your prescription is not very strong, then you might be able to dive without any corrective measures. Otherwise, there are a few options you can look at including the best scuba masks with prescription lenses.
Some divers use contacts instead of glasses. This does work for some folks while not for others. If that’s not working for you, then you can always have a look at dive masks with prescription lenses which can make a world of difference. You can get some of the best scuba goggles with vision corrected lenses.
What can you do when your mask floods?
It is very rare that you would encounter a gear problem that leads to flooding of your mask. Smaller seal issues take usually care of themselves. The pressure of the air inside the mask pushes small amounts of water out if the seal is broken.
If your mask completely breaks and floods you would try to either use a replacement mask if you have one or to do a safe ascent. There’s usually no reason to panic.
If it’s just a temporary issue where water flooded your scuba diving mask, then try to purge the mask first. You can only do that by looking up and then lift the bottom of the mask slightly and press the purge button of your regulator. That will usually allow air to get trapped inside your mask and push water out.
Alternatively, you can breathe out into your mask and purge the water that way. Neither of these methods is foolproof though. The worst that usually might happen is that you have to ascent to replace the mask. Water entering the mask can and will happen even with the best scuba goggles. Be prepared for it and don’t panic when you encounter this issue.
How can you prevent fogging?
Fogging is another nuisance during scuba diving. No matter what mask you use you will most likely experience it during some of your dives. The principles are similar to what happens if you wear glasses outside in the cold and you enter a warm room. They instantly fog up. The same occurs underwater when you transition between different temperature layers.
There are some possibilities to prevent it though. First, prepare your new mask as we have mentioned above. Use toothpaste to clean out the mask and then rinse with warm water. After that use defogging spray every time you go scuba diving. That should usually help you avoid that your mask gets foggy during a dive.
Does Silicone stay in its shape or does it degrade over time?
A lot of components of scuba diving masks are made from silicone. Usually, dive goggles have a silicone skirt and straps. Some masks you can buy are quite expensive, so it’s more than reasonable to question how long your mask will last.
Silicone will usually not degrade or lose its softness or shape over time. Some situations can shorten the life of silicone though. First and foremost, UV rays will start to degrade silicone. Make sure that you don’t leave your scuba goggles baking in the sun while you’re on the beach or a boat. Store it in a dark place when not in use.
Another issue can be that you encounter bugs that like to chew and nibble on silicone. It’s rare, but it can happen. Again, you want to store your scuba diving mask in a dark and dry place that is secure from outside elements and where insects cannot get to.
Lastly, do not store your mask when it’s wet. Let it dry thoroughly to prevent mold from growing in a steamy environment. That’s not a problem for the silicone, but a mold-infested mask might end up in the trash.
Should you buy or rent a mask?
There’s nothing wrong if you rent a mask or loan it from a friend. That is if it is the right size and fits your face. You also want a mask that is reasonably high quality and has no damages to it.
If you dive a lot, then it makes sense to buy your mask. If you only occasionally dive, like a couple of times a year during vacation, then it might be more convenient to rent. However, do not expect these masks to fit as well as your mask would!
The skirt over a period of time will begin to shape into the form of your face slightly. If you use somebody else’s mask, you might have a harder time getting a tight seal. So, if you can afford one and if you will use it often enough, then it does make a lot of sense to purchase your mask.
Conclusion
You might or might not agree with our list of the best scuba diving masks above. Everybody has different experiences and most important, everybody is an individual. Your face might or might not fit a certain mask better or worse. And as such, you might prefer a mask that we haven’t listed or you might not like the one that we have listed.
We try to use objective evaluations to come up with our ranking and we try to find the best scuba masks that match specific target groups. It is completely understandable that a diver that has the chance to dive 5 times a week will not need a super-expensive mask like the Atomic Aquatics Venom. But, if you dive a lot and can afford it, then go for it as it is one of the best scuba goggles there is. Use the above suggestions to find a mask to help you have the best scuba diving experience possible.
We hope you get value from our list of the best scuba masks above and we’d love to hear from you. Please leave a comment or contact us. We’re looking forward to hearing from you!
If you are just starting with scuba diving then you want to have a look at our guide to find the best dive computer for beginners.
