Leaking diving mask? There is probably nothing more annoying when diving than a leaking or fogged mask. Notoriously lost field of vision can throw even the most composed person off balance. Well, exactly why does a diving mask leak?
You’ve probably wondered or considered it many times. However, have you been able to find an answer to this question? If so, have you been able to solve the problem that arises?
Today will be rather short and to the point. That is to say, I hope it will be short, because sometimes I write too much. Ok, already without dragging we will discuss the most common causes of diving mask fogging.
Table of Contents
Why does the diving mask leak?
There are actually several reasons for a leaking diving mask, and it’s a good idea to think through all of these possibilities to find the cause of your problem. And while a mask that leaks while diving can be really annoying, the solution can be quite simple and easy. So what causes a mask to flood with water while diving?
The mask is leaking because it has been poorly selected
It may seem surprising, but diving masks have their own sizes. That is, you can find smaller masks for children’s or slender faces, or big masks for big guys. And just like with pants, if you wear the wrong size, it just won’t work well.
In order to get the best mask for us, we need to choose it in the right way for the shape of our face. We need to try it on dry first, see if it holds well on our face. If it is able to stay on our face on its own during the fitting, we have a good chance that this is the mask that will be comfortable for us while diving and provide us with the desired visual acuity. Unfortunately, the thing with masks is that the one that fits our friend will not necessarily fit our face.
How to choose a mask when buying?
When buying a mask, it is a good idea to try on as many of them as possible and make an effective selection. By this I mean that the masks that do not fit us immediately put aside and do not consider them. Even if they are pretty and in our favorite color 😉 .
Sometimes, unfortunately, it happens that during the fitting in the store the mask seems to fit perfectly on the face, while during the dive it nevertheless floods with water. This may mean that the mask does not fit well on our face because it is ill-fitting, which in practice happens very rarely.
The mask is leaking because it’s put on incorrectly
Although it seems ridiculous and impossible, but it happens very often. The problem of incorrectly worn mask is very common, especially at the beginning of the diving adventure. You are probably wondering how on earth one can incorrectly put on a mask? I’m already rushing with answers.
The first common mistake is to wear the mask in such a way that part of the mask apron – that is, the rubber part that is supposed to adhere with its entire surface to the face – comes over the diving hood. The result? The mask floods in express mode.
Another problem is the wrapping of the mask apron to the inside of the mask. It occurs when we have the mask strap pulled very tightly when putting the mask on. Then we have to put a lot of force to pull the mask over the face, which often causes the mask to curl inward. Due to the fact that it does not adhere the entire surface to the face, the effect is similar to the above point.
What to remember when putting on a diving mask?
Hair in the mask. All in all, this is a rather unimportant reason, while undoubtedly, large strands of hair that are trapped in a diving mask promote water ingress and increase susceptibility to fogging. So, remember to clean your mask well before diving.
A mask worn too high on the face. Seriously? Well, it’s that a mask put on in a hurry is very often put on too high on the forehead. Thus, the nose does not have the possibility to hide comfortably in the silicone nose of the mask. In this case, the apron of the mask ends directly under the nostrils, which in turn translates into uneven distribution of the mask over the face, manifesting itself in a gentle but systematic leaking.
The mask is leaking because you tightened the strap too much
Often when I suggest to students and divers I know that they may have their mask strap pulled too tight, I am met with great surprise. Sometimes I feel like a charlatan, telling tales and other unbelievable things. Well, I guess that’s the role of an instructor 😉 Everyone from time to time asks why the diving mask leaks. And yet this is no secret knowledge.
The natural reflex accompanying an attempt to stop the mask from flooding is to pull the strap tighter. This action is intended to seemingly seal the mask-face connection. Why is this action only apparent? Well, first of all, because by pulling the strap tighter from the mask, we cause the apron of the mask to deform outward.
In other words, the mask sticks to our face so tightly that the silicone gets deformed! And if we have the mask apron deformed and not adhering to the face, then unfortunately there is no other way. The mask will leak. And remember that the strap from the mask is only to gently support it, not to press it against the face.
Your mask leaks because of facial hair and facial expressions
This part is especially true for men who have very lush facial hair. The facial hair effectively gives away the apron of the face mask, which can cause the mask to get slightly wet when diving. Here you can help yourself by choosing a better quality mask with silicone, which is softer and thus will sit better on the hairy face. But actually, facial hair can add to your manhood, but it will also always be a reason for the mask to leak. You just have to live with it.
Natural facial expressions and facial wrinkles also play an important role. It often happens that when we smile while diving, characteristic dimples appear on the face, to which the mask no longer fits, so that water pours into it.
Leaking mask, a word to conclude
The listed causes of diving mask leakage are somewhat obvious. We are not discovering anything new. Perhaps, we just systematized and arranged a bit. If you are accompanied by the problem of a leaking mask while diving, start by putting it on your face correctly and loosening the strap a bit. In most cases, this should help.
Also consider changing the mask for a completely different one. Here, a good idea would be to ask your colleagues to lend you other types of diving masks so you can test which one will work best for you. And last but not least – we are divers and a little water in the mask cannot prevent us from doing a dive!
