Hey SD fans, welcome back to our watery world, and for those here for the first time,
my name s Mark, I am the editor-in-chief of the Scuba Diver media brand,
and welcome to the Scuba Diver YouTube Channel. Today we are looking at one of
the most-important parts of a scuba diver s equipment arsenal the humble mask.
I ll be looking at the different types of mask on the market, the pros and cons of certain
design elements, new innovations, and so on. We have just done our big group mask review,
so stay around until the end of the video, when I will be revealing our top 5 masks for 2020.
Masks are a vital part of our dive kit, as without one, you are not going to be seeing
much underwater! A comfortable, well-fitted mask can make all the difference between an
enjoyable dive and an annoying one there is nothing more frustrating that constant dribbles
of water coming into your mask, requiring you to keep clearing it. However, they are a very
personal item, and what works for one person might not for another. Thankfully, there are absolutely
loads of masks on the market, so you have got lots of choice. Let s start with the basics. There are
effectively two types of mask design single-lens, and dual-lens. As the names suggest, one has a
single piece of glass, the other has two. Both kinds have been around for many years, what
has changed is the actual shape of the lens, and the materials used in the skirt that supports it.
Most skirts these days are made from silicone, which is far more comfortable than the hard rubber
skirts of old, believe me! The single-lens mask there currently seems to be a trend on these
masks, with many manufacturers producing a selection in their range. The advantage
of a single lens design is that you get a more-uninterrupted view of the user s face,
which explains why these masks are extremely popular with photographers.
Not for them to wear, but for their models. Get a single-lens mask with a clear skirt, or one of
the myriad vibrant colours currently available, and it is far easier to get photographs of your
model where you can clearly see their eyes, and get more expression when you are shooting them
alongside a turtle, for instance. Many single-lens masks are a frameless design, which gives it away
there is no plastic frame holding the lens, the lens is moulded into the silicone skirt itself.
A benefit of this is that it often makes the mask lighter, you can make it very low profile so it is
easier to clear - and as the strap buckles attach straight on to the silicone skirt, you can fold it
flat. Why would you want to do this? Well, it started with tech divers, and some instructors,
taking a spare mask on a dive with them by tucking it into their BCD or drysuit pocket,
but now I see more and more recreational divers doing the same thing. A downside? Without
the protection of a plastic frame, the glass lens is more susceptible to accidental damage,
although to be fair, if someone plonks a cylinder down on a mask you left on the bench next to you,
it doesn t matter if it has a frame or not, ten-to-one it will be dead. One disadvantage
that I have found with some single-lens masks is that because they are often very low profile,
depending on the shape of your face, you can find that the middle of the lens presses on to your
forehead. If you try a single-lens mask on and find this happens for you, don t give up on them,
try a few different styles and brands, as you will find one that fits you without this issue.
The dual-lens mask these come in all shapes and sizes, some with quite small lenses,
others with large, weirdly shaped lenses designed to give you as wide a field of view as possible.
Generally, the buckles are attached to the frame itself, giving the mask quite a rigid quality,
but this usually means it will not fold flat if you were thinking of having it as a spare mask.
That said, there are a handful out there where the frame is hinged at the buckle, so you can fold it
flat, as per a frameless mask. Some framed masks also have attachment points for GoPros, or head
s-up display dive computers. A major benefit of dual-lens masks is that you can use prescription
lenses, so for those who require glasses, or who are finding their eyesight deteriorating
as they get older, these are probably the mask for you. You can either have prescription lenses
bonded into a mask, as I did back in the day before I had laser surgery, or many actually let
you replace the glass lenses themselves with genuine prescription lenses. Photographers don
t tend to like their models wearing dual-lens masks, as it can make them look cross-eyed,
and it is sometimes harder to get both of their eyes into the shot. That said, I know lots of
photographers who wear black-skirted, dual-lens masks themselves. It is all horses for courses.
Two things which have really come on the scene in the last few years are different types of strap,
and coatings on lenses. Let s talk straps first. Most masks have a straightforward silicone strap,
but whatever the design, they are all meant to fit the same way. Dexter can help me out here.
When you have the mask on properly, the strap should come around your head just up from your
ears, and the back of the strap should cup the back of the head. This will hold your
mask securely in place, and you won t end up with MMA-fighter-style ears trapped under your strap.
Another type of strap is made from webbing and neoprene. It is not as quick and easy to adjust
as a simple silicone strap, but to be honest, it doesn t matter, as with the stretch of the
neoprene, you can go between a bare head and a hooded head without having to change settings.
New on the scene is an elastic strap, more akin to something you would see on ski goggles.
These are really comfortable, easy to get on and off, and because of the inherent stretch in
the material, they don t need any adjusting as you move between warm and cold waters.
Now let s talk lenses. It used to be that a mask just had clear tempered glass lenses, but not
anymore. Now you have the likes of Ultraclear lenses, which do not have the slight green tint
associated with normal tempered glass, which are supposed to give you more clarity underwater.
Then there are anti-reflective coatings, which are designed to reduce reflected light and increase
the amount of available light transmitted to the diver s eyes, or cut down on the high-energy
visible light reaching the diver s eyes. Other lenses are designed to protect against UV light.
Some dual-lens masks even let you swap out the lenses yourself so you can pick whatever
is best for the conditions you are diving in. One downside of these reflective lenses is that
you cannot see the diver s eyes, so they are not popular in a mask for models.
So that s our overview of masks, and now I am going to tell you our top 5 masks for 2020.
In at five is the Oceanic Shadow the Shadow is a very low-profile single-lens mask, that has been
in the Oceanic line-up for many years. But it is a great mask, so I can understand why, and it comes
in at a great price point. It comes in two sizes to fit a range of faces, and is available in
black, clear and a selection of vibrant colours, which look great in photographs. The Shadow
also has a comfortable webbing-and-neoprene strap, and comes in a sturdy plastic storage box.
Number four is the Aqua Lung Mistique The Mistique is a single-lens mask with a hard frame,
but because the buckles mount on the skirt itself, it can still be folded flat. It comes with either
a blue, or this reflective Plus coating, to block HEV light. The skirt is very soft and supple,
and it seals well against your face. It comes in a zippered, padded storage case.
In at three is the Scubapro D-Mask the D-Mask is one of the more-expensive masks on the market,
but it is supremely comfortable, and there are a choice of skirts to fit different-shaped faces,
available in clear or black. For those that need prescription lenses, you can fit them yourself.
The elasticated Comfort Strap is really nice to use. It has quite small lenses, but thanks
to the low profile, you still get a broad field of view. It comes in a padded, zippered case,
complete with all-black frame inserts (in case you don t like the blue-and-black look), and a mount
for the Scubapro HUD dive computer. Number two in the line-up is the Mares Pure-Wire The Pure-Wire
is an unusual mask that blends the single-lens frameless style with a frame, of sorts. This
bi-material frame can be easily swapped for a different colour, if you so wish. But it is
not all for looks the frame is designed as such that it provides extra support to the skirt where
needed. This was one of the most-comfortable masks I had used in a long time. It might
look like it comes in a takeaway container, but this is a plastic-free storage solution
not sure how this would stand up to regular use, though. And taking the top spot is the Apeks VX1
The VX1 is a single-lens frameless mask simply available in white, black or a gun-metal grey.
The silicone skirt strikes the perfect balance between stiff and soft to achieve a great seal on
your face, and the Pure Clear lens offers maximum optical clarity. It comes with a silicone strap,
a webbing-and-neoprene strap, and a padded, zippered protective case.
As we have said before, masks are a very personal piece of diving equipment, and when you find one
that fits you well, guard it with your life I know divers who are using masks that are 15-20 years
old as they are so comfortable. These five are just our pick. When choosing a mask, head to your
local dive centre, and take your time trying on a wide selection. It may be one of your cheaper
purchases, but as I said in our video about essential dive kit, which we ll link to here,
it is undoubtedly one of the most important. If you enjoyed this video, be sure to subscribe
to our YouTube Channel, and ring that bell so you get notification for all our new videos.
As always, if you are going diving in the coming days, enjoy, and stay safe.