People use masks for a variety of activities, from swimming to snorkeling to skin and scuba diving. I’m currently learning to scuba dive, so I was concerned about a foggy mask because I not only wanted to be able to see the ocean life, but also be able to stay oriented that far under water.
When I first started snorkeling, it didn’t bother me as much because it is easy to wipe out a mask at the surface. I learned in the diving pool, however, that it’s no fun to be down with your group and not be able to see them or complete the diving exercises correctly. I did a few things right, but I made a few common mistakes that all newbies make. These are my suggestions.
1) Buy a quality mask. There are plenty of inexpensive snorkeling sets that include a mask, fins, and snorkel, but you’ll want to invest a bit more money if you’re going to be diving. There are some bells and whistles that you may not necessarily need, like a purge valve, side windows, etc., but for the most part you get what you pay for. A comfort strap might be nice also so you don’t snag your hair.
2) Scrub the inside and outside of the mask window with a non-gel toothpaste or other non-abrasive cleaner. Maybe there are some soft cloths you can use, but I just used my finger. The mistake I made was thinking that a simple scrub was good enough. My mask still fogged up the first day. My instructor said it can take 2-3 good scrubbings to remove the protective film from a new mask.
3) Use defog on a dry mask. There are several kinds that you can buy, but remember to use a little inside and out and then rinse ONCE before you put it on. Any more than that and you’ll rinse the defog off.
4) Put your mask on and leave it on. Taking your mask off and exposing it to water and air can cause fogging. As long as it’s on your face you don’t have to worry about that. This is easy when diving because you’re not going to take off your mask, but when you’re learning new skills at the surface you might be tempted to take off your mask to see better. My mask was very clear the second night but I noticed it getting foggy toward the end because I messed with it too much.
5) Rinse your mask well with fresh water after each use and store out of the sun (just as you should do with the rest of your equipment), preferably in your protective case.
The reason I wrote about masks rather than all of the equipment is because I am still learning about most of the other components and a foggy mask was what was causing me the most anxiety when I started class. I will continue to post as I learn more. If you have anything to add specifically about masks, I would welcome the advice!
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