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Snorkle Mask? How to keep it sealed?


Dirkgun

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I love to snorkle but I can't seem to keep my mask sealed. It seems to leak water at a slow rate, but it still leaks. I was hoping to not have to shave my facial hair. Is there any other equipment options? Thanks in advance for the help.

Dirk

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My husband shaves just about 1/4 inch of his mustache just under his nose where the mask touches his face. This helps him to get a better seal. He has a full mustache and beard and this works for him. You could give this a try.

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Try putting a wad of silicone grease on the stash. You can substitute with vasoline, but it is not as good for the equipment. Here is a site that shows the grease: http://www.strictlyscuba.com/products/88-mcnett-silicone-grease-scuba-diving-gear-cleaners-and-protectants.aspx This can be purchased at any dive shop or online.

 

Also, rubbing baby shampoo on the inside of your mask (and rinsing) is an inexpensive way to stop your mask from fogging up

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My husband shaves just about 1/4 inch of his mustache just under his nose where the mask touches his face. This helps him to get a better seal. He has a full mustache and beard and this works for him. You could give this a try.

 

Try putting a wad of silicone grease on the stash. You can substitute with vasoline, but it is not as good for the equipment. Here is a site that shows the grease: http://www.strictlyscuba.com/products/88-mcnett-silicone-grease-scuba-diving-gear-cleaners-and-protectants.aspx This can be purchased at any dive shop or online.

 

Also, rubbing baby shampoo on the inside of your mask (and rinsing) is an inexpensive way to stop your mask from fogging up

 

 

Thanks.... both of theses sound like workable solutions. I was thinking I might have to go to a better or more fitted mask from a dive shop or something. or someone suggested trying just swimming goggles and a nose plug....?

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I love to snorkle but I can't seem to keep my mask sealed. It seems to leak water at a slow rate, but it still leaks. I was hoping to not have to shave my facial hair. Is there any other equipment options? Thanks in advance for the help.

Dirk

 

My son just suggested that possibly you could use eye goggles and get a nose plug if the grease dosen't work. Now he has me thinking I should try that, I make my mask leak when I start to freak out about my face being underwater.

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My son just suggested that possibly you could use eye goggles and get a nose plug if the grease dosen't work. Now he has me thinking I should try that, I make my mask leak when I start to freak out about my face being underwater.

DH tried. It was better, but was still frustrated.

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I was thinking I might have to go to a better or more fitted mask from a dive shop or something

 

BINGO - we have a winner

 

most new folks to the sport are quickly amazed at the difference in performance between low grade equipment and something different that was fitted. At least at a dive shop you can try on several different ones and decide which is better vice picking blindly what you saw at Sam's Club just for the savings.

 

A good fitting mask and that little trim back works for me and I have a 'stash (chin wiskers don't matter unless they come way up your cheeks .... then cut them back too) But remember to give it a fresh once-over before each wetting cuz stubble is as bad as full whiskers for breaking the seal.

 

diver since 1973

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All the best advice has been given. A quick summary.

  • A good fitting quality mask from a dive shop (worth the extra cash, believe me it makes a difference).
  • Shave off a little under the nose.
  • Apply Vaseline under nose before Snorkeling. (wash mask well after).
  • Tighter is not better, if the mask fits correctly it does not want to be too tight.

 

A couple of other thoughts:

You do not need that great big "easier to breathe" snorkel, it just helps to pull the mask away from your face. Again, take advice from a Dive Shop, bigger is not better.

 

Masks are available that have a purge valve under the nose, to clear water from the mask all you have to do is exhale hard through the nose, (no need to lift the mask away from your face). Have a look at one in a Dive Shop.

 

Enjoy your Snorkeling.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Is there any brand in particular that is either NO good or really good to get? Our son learned how to snorkel a few years ago with Body Glove brand...yes, I know...cheap from sporting good store. Now that we cruise more and snorkel more, we'd all like to upgrade to a better quality/brand.

 

We will be in Fl for a week before our cruise and are going to find some shops near the 2 places we are staying to buy new *better* masks & snorkels.

 

Have to do it then...there are no shops like that here where we live in (snowy) PA :o

 

Thanks for any advice!

 

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ryansmom, I would suggest that you do a search for dive shops in Reading, I know of at least two,. Mask fit is the most important thing to consider when you buy equipment. Your son needs to go and try the mask when you buy it.

 

Thanks... I know he needs to try one on. He's only 12, but about 5' 6", wears an 8 shoe.... you'd never guess he's only 12. I'm thinking he needs a bigger one now since the 'kid' size one I bought a few years back to get him started.

 

I'll have to check Reading and where...there are some places in Reading I just refuse to venture into! :eek: mof, I'm so far OUT of Reading...I'm within walking distance of the next zipcode. :rolleyes: If no luck, I still have places in Fla to check when we go.

 

Thanks again!

 

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If no luck, I still have places in Fla to check when we go.

 

Thanks again!

 

 

Actually, that's a better idea to get one in FL. Are you sailing out of Fort Lauderdale? There's a dive shop near that port.

 

Also, my hubby and I visited one in St Thomas in the Havensight Mall and he found a nice one that fits him well.

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Actually, that's a better idea to get one in FL. Are you sailing out of Fort Lauderdale? There's a dive shop near that port.

 

Also, my hubby and I visited one in St Thomas in the Havensight Mall and he found a nice one that fits him well.

 

Unfortunately, we're not...sailing from PC. Pros & cons to buying here vs there: here I could return it if I had to, bought in FL, I can't (easily). But, bought here in PA, I *could* try it out in my boss's pool first....

 

Which, brings me to 1 other question. Do masks/snorkels react differently in ocean/sea/salt water than pool water? My husband swears his does, but I told him it's in his head!

 

But, getting back to buying... we'll be at my brother-in-laws the weekend before going, and they live in Edgewater/New Smyrna Beach area. Prior to the week before, we'll be in (sl)Ocala at my father-in-laws. If I can't find what I'm looking for in FL within the week before we go, then I'm not looking hard enuf! :rolleyes:

 

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I cribbed this, but it's excellent advise when purchasing a mask:

How many times have you gone into a dive store, tried a mask that seemed to fit just great, got on an airplane to halfway around the world, jumped into the water and the mask leaked? There seems to be a nearly universal way to try a mask, which unfortunately happens to be the wrong way. Put the mask on, inhale through your nose and guess what? The mask fits. Right? Wrong!

The big mistake is that no one dives or snorkels with a vacuum in their mask or shouldn't be if they are. By inhaling through the nose, an unnatural seal is created. Some divers have tried on masks that don't even come close to fitting but as soon as they inhale, a tight seal is created. While diving though, they are not constantly trying to inhale through their nose (which is what the store clerk told them to do) and now the mask leaks.

 

Someone told a tale of a dive store that displays all masks without straps. The idea apparently is to check that a really good vacuum makes a really good fit. Once again, no one dives trying to inhale through their nose constantly and without a strap no less.

 

Almost all modern masks have an outer seal and a narrower inner seal. This inside seal covers everywhere except just under the nose. If both of these seals touch the face than the odds of that mask fitting and not leaking are very good. This is done by putting the mask on with the strap loose, but in place, and then tightening it to what would be normal if you were diving. Some divers who have had very bad masks are in the habit of over tightening the strap on a new mask in hopes of a better seal. Don't do that especially while trying masks for fit.

 

The next step takes a second person or a mirror. Look around the entire inside of the mask checking to see that the inner seal touches everywhere. It is very important not to inhale through the nose which forces the mask seals to touch if they didn't naturally. Next check the outside seal the same way.

 

If the inner seal is not touching the face, especially next to the side of the eyes, it is likely the mask won't work well. But do check everywhere around the inside. The outer seal might keep water from dripping in but not as well as if both seals touch. Make sure the seals do not cut across any hairline or eyebrows. Also that the side seals are not right at the edge of the eye.

 

One other problem can occur when someone laughs, smiles or even squints. This motion creates lines or wrinkles next to the nose. Sometimes this makes a passage where water pours in. Almost every mask will leak when this happens. So don't laugh! Occasionally, depending on the person, these wrinkles may remain even after they stop laughing. In this case it may be necessary to straighten the face by pulling down or sideways on the cheeks. Again this is not necessarily a mask problem. So don't run out and buy a new mask.

 

If absolutely necessary, to keep everyone happy, you can now inhale slightly to check any unseen leaks. Sometimes a mask leaks around the glass. This is very unusual and is a one off problem, not the design of the mask. You can check this by holding the mask with the face plate parallel to the floor and putting water in the mask. If the face plate seal is faulty, drops of water will appear on the outside.

 

Don't be fooled by the size of a mask's frame and lenses. This has little if anything to do with how a masks fits. People will look for what seems like a narrow or wide mask, depending, but what counts is the size of the skirt where your face is actually touching the mask. An exaggerated example but if the lens of a mask is 1 foot wide but the skirt is only 4 inches, this would fit a rather narrow face but the mask looks huge.

 

With literally 10's of dozens of masks on the market, there is one that will fit. It may take awhile to find but it is out there.

 

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Go to a dive shop and get professionally fitted for a mask. There will be several dive shops close to all the areas you mentioned in Florida if there is not one close to your home.

 

Remember that the best mask for you is the one that fits - regardless of the price. Over the years, we have had masks that cost anywhere between $20-$150.

 

I would also recommend a neoprene mask strap - it will make putting the mask on and taking it off much easier, the strap adjustment is finer, and your hair won't get pulled.

 

My DH has a difficult time with fit, as he's a very large man with a broad face. His long-standing favorite is the old US Divers tri-view with very narrow seals.

 

He also uses a very small razor (actually labeled for ladies bikini line) to shave down from his nose just a tad to get the seal in contact with his lip.

 

The two other masks we carry at the moment are wide-seal Oceanics that fit him decently. I switch back and forth between the two of them depending on my mood at the moment.

 

Have a wonderful time!

 

Wendy

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