How to Fit and Buy a Dive Mask

One of the first pieces of gear added by a new diver to their first set of scuba equipment is a dive mask. Dive masks tend to rise to the top of a new diver's wish list because a rented dive mask with a poor fit can easily ruin a dive trip. Also, a dive mask is inexpensive compared to other pieces of elementary equipment (such as a scuba regulator), making an easy item for even the stingiest diver to acquire. As the mask is so critical to enjoying the sport of scuba diving, it must be selected with great care.

The most important feature of any dive mask is the fit. A mask can be loaded with advanced features, made from the best materials, and have received rave reviews, but if it doesn't fit well it simply isn't a good mask. The classic way to check a dive mask's fit is to put it on without the head strap and to draw a little air in through the nose, sucking the mask back onto the face. If that action is enough to secure the mask to the face, the seal around the edges of the mask is good. If the mask is also comfortable to wear, it has a good fit.

Because the fit is so central to choosing a dive mask, buying one from an online vendor is not a good idea. A diver can only check how a mask fits in person, and doing this with a new mask means a trip to the store. Given that dive masks are relatively inexpensive and any online discount won't make much of a difference to the bottom line, if a good mask is found it should be bought on the spot.

As for accessories and extra features, these are all secondary to the fit and usually of little importance. A dive mask with excellent marks from dive gear reviewers for all-around views has really only improved the peripheral vision of the mask, which is relatively minor issue and might not be worth paying extra money for.

One accessory that is of proven value, however, is the strap pad. This simple, slip-on pad is so useful that divers who use one rarely go back to the plain rubber strap. Divers without hoods appreciate the pad keeping the strap from becoming entangled in their hair, while divers with a hood find the increased surface area of the pad helps keep their mask from slipping off while going over the side of a boat or in rough waters.