How to Fit Your Scuba Mask
How your scuba mask fits can make or break a dive! Have you ever had one of those fantastic dives where your rental equipment was great, and the abundance of sea life blew you away, but your scuba diving mask gave you issues?
We help our Maui scuba diving guests find a suitable dive mask and explain ways to wear it. Learning how to fit your scuba mask is a skill that helps ensure your dive is not impeded by a preventable problem. For tips on how to defog your diving mask, you can visit our blog post, How to Defog Your Mask For Good!
Scuba Diving Masks Need a Good Seal
When deciding which scuba mask to purchase or rent, hold it to your face, inhale through your nose, and see if it stays in place. Naturally, the mask will fall off once you stop inhaling through your nose, but what you are looking for is a tight seal. If you feel air coming through while inhaling, or the mask feels too wide or narrow on your face, look for a different one. You should also note the way the skirt feels.
I wear a Scubapro Spectra Mini, a mask designed for smaller faces. The soft silicone seals around my face ideally. It is worth trying many different masks to see how they compare. Some people prefer a silicone skirt from brands such as Aqualung or Tusa.
Once you find a scuba mask with a good seal that fits comfortably on your face, pull the strap over the back of your head and adjust it to fit properly. I find that having a neoprene mask strap is necessary for my comfort. It prevents the rubber from pulling on my hair! We have fantastic Banyan Tree Divers mask straps available for $10. So worth it! Contact us if you are interested in receiving an order in the mail.
Putting on Your Dive Mask
This mask strap sits too high on the head.
When adjusting the tightness of your scuba mask, lightly pull the tabs on each side. You don’t have to yank the straps, as it risks breaking them. Your scuba diving mask should “rest” on your face. The water pressure will seal it shut. Divers often make the mistake of tightening their mask too much to the point that it pushes on the bridge of their nose or causes the dreaded scuba mask tattoo.
Mask strap positioned for the best fit.
Position the mask strap around the back of your head, slightly below the crown. If it is worn too low, it can pull your ears down and may cause leakage from the bottom. Conversely, wearing it too high can create discomfort by pulling up on your nose, leading to leaks. Wearing the strap too high is often the primary reason for mask leakage. Additionally, the skirt of your scuba mask should fit so that the silicone rests just above your upper lip.
The exception to this rule would be for mustaches. If you have facial hair, it is best to let your dive mask sit above your beard as much as possible and re-adjust the tightness. You remove ALL your hair from the mask skirt so your scuba or snorkeling mask does not leak!
Securing Your Mask
Try not to wear your mask on top of your head before you descend. Not only does the heat from your head cancel out the defog you prepared, but it also doesn’t look cool. Your scuba diving mask should be on your face when you are in the ocean. You can wear it around your neck until you put it on, because only panicked divers place their scuba masks on their foreheads.
Also, your snorkel should be lightweight so it doesn’t pull your mask away from your face! Modern snorkels detach, fold up, and store in your BCD until needed during any scuba dive.
If you start any dive and something about your scuba mask doesn’t feel right, remember to communicate with your Divemaster or expert instructor. Professional instructors worldwide can immediately recognize what help you need and fix it! To reduce the likelihood of needing assistance, take the time to ensure your dive mask fits comfortably before every dive. If you need to surface and adjust it, that’s okay. However, ensure you first communicate with your buddy and dive leader, and don’t surface alone.
While Banyan Tree Divers Maui offers high-quality options like Aqualung, XS Scuba, and Tusa masks in our gear rental, purchasing your own scuba mask is always a good idea. A good mask costs about $100. This small piece of equipment travels quickly and provides peace of mind that an ill-fitting mask will not ruin your dive.
For more information on preparing a new mask to prevent fogging, visit our blog post on permanently defogging your scuba mask!