A good scuba mask is the most personal and essential part of all your diving gear. There are a lot of different options out there in terms of design, quality and budget, and that makes it difficult to choose the right diving mask.
In this article, I’d like to help you make the right decision and find the Best Dive Mask.
Check out other gear reviews to find the best scuba cameras, dive wetsuits, dive bags, boots, gloves, and fins!
The Best Scuba Masks – Top End
ATOMIC AQUATICS VENOM
The Atomic Aquatics Venom provides a high level of comfort, quality optics and design. Two different silicone materials create the frameless skirt, offering a comfortable face seal and stability at the same time.
Design: Frameless, Single Lens.
Pros: Wide panoramic view, high quality, probably the best scuba mask on the list.
Cons: Expensive.
Here at: HOLLIS M1 FRAMELESS
The Hollis M1 has a modern frameless construcion in a pure silicone skirt. This mask provides one of the clearest lenses thanks to the low iron content of the glass. This makes the lens distortion free and helps improve color and visibility. One of the best dive masks on the list.
Design: Frameless, Single Lens.
Pros: Clear lens, wide vision, easy to store in a BCD pocket.
Cons: A bit expensive.
SCUBAPRO FRAMELESS
The Scuba Frameless is a top-quality mask designed to provide maximum vision and the most comfortable experience due to the silicone larger skirt.
Design: Frameless , Single Lens.
Pros: Maximum view, top-quality materials and design.
Here at: The Best Diving Masks. Mid Range
SCUBAPRO SPECTRA
The Scubapro Spectra is a great scuba mask with an amazing performance. It features swivel buckles for easy adjustment and resistent tempered glass lenses.
Design: Frame, Twin Lens.
Pros: Good value for money, option to get it with colored lenses, adding great clarity.
Cons: No panoramic view.
SCUBAPRO SOLO
The Scubapro Solo features a very adaptable silicone skirt that seals well on most people. It features a low volume design for easy clearing and a very resistant construction.
Design: Frameless , Single Lens.
Pros: Seals very well.
Here at: OCTOMASK FOR GOPRO
The Octomask works with all GoPro models. It features a soft silicone skirt to ensure the best seal and maximum vision thanks to the frameless construction. This is the mask for those who love to record all their submarine adventures.
Design: Frameless , Single Lens.
Pros: Great vision, best diving mask for GoPro.
Cons: Better for snorkeling, where you don’t get bubbles in front of the camera.
The Best Budget Scuba Masks
CRESSI BIG EYES EVOLUTION
The Cressi Big Eyes Evolution features angled lenses to provide maximum vision, a comfortable silicone skirt and resistant tempered glass lenses.
Design: Frame, Twin Lens.
Pros: Great vision for twin lenses, good seal.
Here at: PHANTOM AQUATICS PANORAMIC
The Phantom Aquatics Panoramic is one of the cheapest (but still a good dive mask) of the entire list. It features a panoramic lens, a push-bottom buckle for easy adjustments and a silicone skirt with a great seal.
Design: Frame, Multi Lens.
Pros: Great wide vision.
Cons: Reduced space if you have a big nose.
Check price on:
CRESSI LIBERTY
The Cressi Liberty is a very comfortable mask built with a maximum-vision single lens and high-quality adjustable buckles. This mask is usually top rated by all consumers.
Design: Frame, Single Lens.
Pros: Great vision, One of the best scuba diving masks for the price.
Here at: OCEANIC MAKO
The Oceanic Mako is another mask that comes with great features for a very reasonable price. This model provides a comfortable Neoprene strap that I find really cool.
Design: Frame , Single Lens.
Pros: Neoprene strap.
Cons: Not as durable as high-quality masks.
“Comfortable to wear”
N/A
A few things to consider when buying the Best Scuba Diving Mask:
DUAL LENS AND SINGLE LENS
Dual lens masks are usually the most popular scuba masks on the market. They have a smaller volume than single-lens models, and that makes them easier to clear and equalize. They can be replaced with corrective lenses.
Single lens masks offer the widest view because they don’t have a frame along the nose bridge. Due to the design of the mask, single lens can’t be replaced with corrective lens.
PRESCRIPTION LENS
When diving with a mask, you’ll see things 25% larger due to the mask’s lens. If you wear glasses with a small percentage of correction, your vision should be OK when using a scuba mask. If you have significant vision problems, you will need a special solution. Some divers wear their prescription glasses inside the mask, although the mask may easily leak. Other people use contact lenses.
Fortunately, certain manufacturers are building special diving masks with personalized prescription lens. Check out this article.
FRAME AND FRAMELESS MASKS
In addition to the lens, the frame directly affects the quality of the vision we experience under water. For instance, a narrow and dark frame will let in less light, making you feel more claustrophobic than a transparent frame would.
Most frames can be framed or frameless.
Frameless masks are made from a silicone skirt molded straight to the lens, providing a great open view. In many cases, the lens is slightly curved, which significantly improves vision. On the downside, their elements cannot be removed and replaced if needed.
Frame masks – the classic ones – work well, too. In some cases, all parts can be replaced for cleaning or to mount prescription lenses.
Another type of mask is available: panoramic. These offer a super-wide field of view which lets in a lot of light and allows you to see through the mask’s sides.
MASK SKIRT
Today, most skirts are made of high-quality, durable silicone. The main goal of the mask skirt is to prevent water from coming in by providing a good seal. For extra sealing, some models are equipped with a double skirt that reduces the possibility of a leak.
STRAPS AND BUCKLES
Although different types are available, most masks come with silicone straps that are usually quite resistant. If you aren’t going to dive very often, this might be alright for you. However, if you’re a serious diver, consider replacing the silicone strap with a neoprene one. This feels much more comfortable, has a greater fixation base and won’t get caught in your hair.
In a cheap mask, the buckle quality is usually the first thing that catches your attention (due to its terrible construction and performance). I recommend that you invest your money in a mask with good buckles. They should have a firm hold, while still being easy to use.
HOW TO FIND THE RIGHT FIT
Finding the right size and fit is essential. Fortunately, most models are available in several sizes. If the mask is too large, it may leak and you’ll have to blow the water out of the mask all the time. If the mask is too small, you may feel discomfort. The mask may even leak as well because it won’t adapt well to the shape of your face.
Keep in mind that the strap is meant to hold the mask, but you don’t have to set it very tightly to create the seal. The right shape and size of the mask should create the seal on your face.
To determine whether a dive mask fits you, place the mask against your face, look down and inhale through your nose. Now let go; the mask should stay in position. If it falls, it is too big.
A FEW EXTRA TIPS:
HOW TO AVOID FOGGING
A mask that gets continuously foggy can totally ruin your dive. You can’t enjoy the wonders of the underwater world with a foggy mask. For some people, a foggy mask can even be a little stressful. The good news is that we have several solutions to get rid of the fog:
When you have a new mask:
1. Use some toothpaste:
This is a home remedy well-known to all divers. Toothpaste removes the thin layer of silicone that new masks have when they leave the factory. Apply the toothpaste to both sides of the glass, rub gently with your fingers, leave the toothpaste on for a few minutes and rinse with water.
2. Use a lighter:
You can gently burn the surface of the glass with a lighter to remove that thin layer we were talking about earlier. Be careful not to burn the skirt of the mask. A few passes with the lighter should be enough to remove the silicone layer.
Before each dive:
1. Spit:
This is the procedure used by 99 percent of divers. Simply spit on your mask before each dive. Spread the saliva through the lens and then rinse with water. Our saliva is a top-quality natural anti-fog. Keep in mind: The glass must be dry before you spit. If you have wet it accidentally, you must dry it.
2. Soaps:
There are many soaps (especially for masks and also regular ones) that work the same way saliva does, preventing your mask from fogging. Usually, a single drop is enough. Spread it with your fingers and then rinse the mask. The mask should be dry before you apply the soap.
HOW TO CLEAN AND CARE FOR YOUR MASK
If you want your diving equipment to last for a long time, you must take care of it properly. Remember that you should always clean your mask after EVERY dive. No exceptions! Clean your mask with fresh water to prevent the formation of bacteria. You will also get rid of the salt that damages the materials. Try to clean the mask properly, eliminating sand debris that may remain on the joints and straps.
Let it dry, then store your mask in a dry place protected from the sun.
Other divers also liked:
Enjoy this PADI article: Masks for Scuba Diving
Would you pin it? Thanks
Did you enjoy The Best Scuba Diving Masks Review? Please, leave a comment!
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If you click on the link and purchase the item, I will earn advertising fees. There are other affiliate links to REI and Leisure Pro.
Hi, I’m Miguel; Adventure traveler, scuba diver and hiking lover. I have been traveling the world for the last 12 years and I hope my experiences, photos and hiking routes inspire you to travel the world too.
Leave a Reply