Choosing the right freediving mask can be a daunting task. There are so many different types of masks, and they all have their own benefits and drawbacks. How do you know which one is going to work best for your needs? The key to finding the perfect freediving mask is understanding what type of water activity you will be doing with it, as this will affect how well the mask performs in that specific situation. Understanding these factors ahead of time will help narrow down your choices when shopping around!
Table of Contents
1. What is a freediving mask and how does it work
A freediving mask is a type of diving equipment that allows people to see clearly underwater. These masks are made of silicone, rubber, and plastic so they can withstand different water pressures. Freediving masks have one window glass or two for those who want to see above and below the water.
Freediving masks come in various shapes, sizes, colors, and types of windows to make different depths underwater more visible for a diver. There are also different styles of free diving masks that offer many benefits for you to choose from when deciding which one is best suited for your needs.
A major determining factor on what type of mask would work best is understanding how deep you will be diving as this will determine whether or not an open-faced style works better than a full face mask with goggles. An open-faced freediving mask has two small holes at either side that allows divers to breathe through their mouths while submerged under water. A full facemask with goggle offers form protection against cold
2. Types of masks – what are the differences between them
There are two main types of freediving masks: the single lens and the bi-focal mask. Some people use a single lens for both their warm-up dives and competitive ones, while others prefer to use a bi-focal mask.
This is a personal preference, but the two types of masks have some differences that are worth considering before making your decision:
Single-lens freediving masks let in more light and offer better peripheral vision; bi-focal masks provide an increased field of view and depth perception since they use two lenses with different focal lengths. The single-lens mask can be challenging to replace if it gets scratched or damaged while competitive diving, so this might not be ideal for all athletes. It’s also possible to fog up either type of mask, which would mean you need to stop diving until the problem clears – this typically takes about three minutes underwater
Freedivers often prefer these because they allow them to see more clearly when diving and they are more durable than a bi-focal mask.
Bifocal freediving masks provide a field of view that’s wider than those with single-lens masks. These offer better peripheral vision and depth perception, which might be helpful for competitive freedivers who need to see the competition in order to beat them
The bifocal mask can also fog up if not cleaned properly or kept dry while you dive; this is a common problem for both bi-focal and single-lens masks. Both types are challenging to replace once damaged due to their size
Since there isn’t much difference between these two choices, it really comes down to preference when choosing your freediving mask!
3. How to choose a mask, including considerations like fit, budget, and style
When it comes to freediving, choosing the right mask is essential. It will have an impact on your comfort and safety underwater so you should take some time to find the best one. I’ll tell you how!
- Fit: The mask should fit snugly against your face. You want it to be tight enough that you can’t feel any air coming through the sides or top, but not so tight that it creates any pressure on your nose or forehead.
- Budget: When looking at a freediving mask, consider what kind of budget you’re working with and choose accordingly. There are all kinds of masks in different price ranges from $20-$200 for example! It’s also worth noting that some manufacturers offer warranties that may cover damage incurred during diving (this is something else to ask about).
- Style: Some people like more traditional silicone covered models while others prefer those with an open frame made out of glass or nylon mesh material. There are also models that have a built-in snorkel, which can be handy if you’re going to be diving in warm waters.
4. Tips for using your new freediving mask!
Before using your freediving mask, you should wash it thoroughly with warm water and dish soap. Rinse thoroughly and towel dry. You may need to rinse again before use, depending on how much saltwater was inside the mask or how long it’s been since you last used it.
Next, try on the mask and adjust until it fits snugly against your face with no gaps or leaks between the seal and your skin. It’s important to make sure that there is an even distribution of pressure around your nose bridge so that water doesn’t get in through any one spot.
If needed, you can trim off excess silicone from each side of the mask if they’re not sticking out enough for a good seal against the inside surface of your nose as well as along the exterior edge of each nostril – this may be necessary depending on how large your head is relative to other people’s heads!
The straps should lie parallel across either cheekbone below both ears (with just a little slack), and you should be able to fit one finger between the strap and any part of your head.
Lastly, push on either side of the mask until it opens up wide enough for a good view out in front – if not, adjust the straps so that they sit more snugly on your ears or behind them (rather than below). If this is done correctly with no leaks around the nose bridge and outside edges of each nostril, then you’ve got yourself an effective seal!
If after all these adjustments nothing seems right at first glance (or second…), keep looking; there are plenty more masks out there to try before giving up 😉
5. Choose a mask that is comfortable and fits your face well
Choose a mask that feels comfortable on your face. It should also be designed to fit your features, such as nose and mouth size. Be sure to examine the mask and feel it on your face before buying.
When choosing a freediving mask, there are four key factors you’ll want to keep in mind: fit comfortability, tightness, and design. While all masks will have some level of tightness between the nose bridge and outside edges of each nostril, this should not be so uncomfortable that it is difficult or even impossible for air from one’s lungs to escape when necessary. For comfort purposes, choose a size (or thickness) that suits your features best- both wide open mouth space, as well as nasal passage clearance, need consideration here.
Some designs may fit better with certain facial shapes over others; take these differences into account while shopping!
6. Make sure the lens is clear and doesn’t have any scratches or bubbles in it
Clear the lens of your freediving mask before you go underwater. Wash, rinse, and dry it to make sure there are no scratches or bubbles in it that could cause a leak. The most common issue with free-diving masks is that they leak around the nose.
In addition, the lens can be difficult enough at first glance since they may look foggy or cloudy from within which means there’s water trapped in, which is a sign your mask needs to be replaced.
If you are using the mask for surfing or swimming in general it’s ok if there are some scratches that don’t interfere with seeing through the lens as long as they’re not very deep and majorly scratched up. If this is your situation, make sure you clean them thoroughly before every use to prevent those minor scratches from getting worse over time.
7. Consider the shape of your nose
Some masks are more suited to people with wider noses, while others are better for those with narrower noses
Do you have a round, long or pointed nose? If your answer is pointy then the most important factor to consider when purchasing a mask is its shape and size.
For those with rounded noses, it’s best to purchase masks that extend at least below their nostrils for air circulation purposes. The material of these masks should also be considered because if their too thick people may find them uncomfortable which will affect sleep quality since they won’t want to take off the mask in order to let themselves breathe freely during nighttime hours. For wide-nosed individuals like me (broad), I recommend looking into special full-coverage styles – this way all breathing passages can remain fully covered without compromising on comfort levels!
8. Look at how much air space there is between the mask and your eyes
If you’re not used to wearing a mask, this can be uncomfortable. You don’t want the mask to touch your eyes, nose, or lips. So be sure you have a proper fit before purchasing it!
This mask’s material of choice is silicone. The nose piece can be adjusted to suit your needs, and the straps are very secure so you don’t need a chin strap to hold it on. It also has an adjustable forehead panel which makes for a better fit!
Finally, this style comes with curved lenses that will provide more protection from glare in the water as well as distortion when looking up or down at longer distances like while snorkeling.
The only downside I’ve found about this mask is its price point – it may not be affordable enough for everyone out there who wants one! However, if budget isn’t an issue then I highly recommend considering this model because it provides excellent comfort levels without compromising on quality whatsoever.
9. Think about where you’ll be using the freediving mask most often
If you’re only going to use it in one place, then make sure it’s easy to clean and has a good fit for that specific situation.
For example, if you will be using it mostly in the ocean with lots of wave action and salt water then you need to make sure your snorkel mask is durable and won’t have any leaks or fogging issues while underwater. If on the other hand you’re only going to be used by freshwater ponds or lakes than this may not matter as much because there’s less chance of intrusion from external substances like sand, mud, or saltwater!
10. Check what kind of strap system it has before buying
Some straps will give you more freedom of movement than others. Freediving straps are an important consideration when buying a new suit. Some offer more freedom of movement, while others focus on keeping you tight and streamlined in the water.
Freedivers have to make sure they’re wearing the right type of strap system for their needs; some will give them greater leeway than other suits do as far as moving around underwater goes.
The key to finding the perfect freediving mask is understanding what type of water activity you will be doing with it, as this will affect how well the mask performs in that specific situation. Understanding these factors ahead of time when shopping around!
The Bottom Line
As you can see, finding the perfect freediving mask is not as easy as it may seem. It’s important to consider your type of water activity and how well a particular mask will perform in that situation before making any final purchases. Luckily for you, our blog has done all the hard work! We’ve compiled a list of some amazing masks on this post – try them out and let us know what you think!