Created: 10/22/2018
Updated: 01/31/2021 19:36:04Share:
*Review of the best according to the editors of expertology.ru. About the selection criteria. This material is subjective in nature, does not constitute advertising and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before purchasing, consultation with a specialist is required.
Regardless of the weather outside, we dream of being on the sea coast under the warming rays of the sun. For some, this pleasure is available due to their geographical location, while others, in order to fulfill their desires, part with money, buying a ticket to a warm country with it. Many modern people prefer to relax actively, rather than lie on the beach from morning to evening, eating extra pounds. Scuba diving (diving, spearfishing) is especially popular when vacationing near the sea or ocean.
Special equipment is required for classes. Experts say that almost half is taken care of by the mask. It is this that allows you to see under water as well as on land, while protecting your eyes from the effects of water and the ingress of any foreign particles. Remember that diving goggles are not suitable at all, because they are not designed for diving more than two meters, where the pressure increases significantly.
Our experts carefully studied user reviews and ranked the 7 best swimming masks.
Design
When you come to a diving store, you can see a wide assortment of different models - a beginner will definitely be confused. Therefore, let's start with a design to immediately remove half of the masks.
To date, all produced models can be divided into two categories: with a separate protrusion for the nose and without it.
The first cover almost the entire face - from the eyebrows to the upper lip. They look very chic and, it would seem, should provide a better panorama. But they are only suitable for small dives - at a depth of 15 meters or more, glass of such a volume simply cannot withstand. In addition, a full-face mask for spearfishing causes problems if you need to blow out your ears during pressure changes - to do this you have to pinch your nose.
For those who like to dive to significant depths, masks with a protrusion under the nose are better suited.
Therefore, for those who like to dive to significant depths, masks with a protrusion under the nose are better suited. They are convenient primarily because they allow you to pinch your nose to blow out your ears without removing the mask. In addition, having a smaller glass area, they can withstand significant loads without harm to themselves - you can dive to a depth of more than 15 meters without fear. At the same time, the glass is located closer to the diver's eyes, which provides excellent visibility - no less than that which a full-face mask for spearfishing can boast.
Now that you have more or less decided which type of mask is right for you, you can begin to select specific elements - only a mask that meets all the swimmer’s requirements will provide him with sufficient comfort when hunting.
Several reviews from equipment owners
Oleg, St. Petersburg. I bought the Omer Alien mask. Very high quality silicone, fits well even on my rather large face. The disadvantage is that the viewing angle is small for me and at a depth of more than three meters it begins to put pressure on the bridge of the nose.
Svyatoslav, Sochi. My choice is OMER Abyss. Fits well, quality workmanship. During operation, it never leaked in any weather and water temperature. The classic design of the strap makes the mask fit well. I didn’t dive deeper than 7 meters, but to this depth there was no pressure on the bridge of my nose.
Egor, Moscow. I decided to replace the mask. At one time I bought Omer Alien. There are no complaints about the quality, and at the beginning there was enough visibility. But with experience I realized that the big disadvantage of this equipment is the lack of visibility. Now I'm looking for something better in this regard with the same quality.
Nikita, Moscow. Purchased Seac sub Italica. A friend recommended this, I ordered it online from Italy. Happy with the purchase so far. Excellent visibility, does not allow water to pass through (although I did not dive deeper than 12 meters). The only problem was fogging, but burning the glass solved the problem once and for all.
Evgeniy, Novorossiysk.
I tried masks from Omer and Technisub. The visibility of the latter is of course much better, but I liked the silicone and glass better in the first option. But still, a compromise was found, I settled on Technisab. Good quality, a tiny amount of space inside and good visibility, what else is needed for good hunting.
Basic criteria for choosing masks for hunting
Each mask consists of several elements. And all of them should provide maximum comfort to the owner - any deviation, even insignificant at first glance, may well result in serious problems when diving. Therefore, having studied each of the elements separately.
Glass
Of course, the most important element of any mask is glass. It’s not worth even looking at other materials - plexiglass and other plastics, even if they are well advertised, will never compare with it. If only because over time they become cloudy, covered with scratches and will no longer be able to serve the owner. Well, cheaper models are rarely able to last even one season.
The glass must be tempered. Thanks to this, if for some reason it bursts at depth, it will crumble into small cubes, and not into sharp fragments that would probably damage the eyes. Typically, special tempering is indicated by the inscription “TEMPERED” on the glass.
Make sure that the glass does not have the slightest defects - irregularities and others. Otherwise, you will see everything distorted underwater.
Blitz tips
Here are some tips from the professionals:
- If water gets under the equipment, it can be removed directly without leaving the water. The steps are repeated until the liquid is completely removed. What you need: head tilts back;
- there is pressure on the top of the mask;
- exhale through the nose;
- cover your nose with your hand;
- the mask is dipped in Coca-Cola for an hour, then washed with water;
Obturator
Behind this strange and difficult to pronounce word lies the rubber base of the mask. More precisely, once they were only rubber, but today silicone analogues are increasingly common. Be sure to pay attention to the seal - otherwise you will not see a good mask for spearfishing.
When choosing, always pay attention to the seal - the rubber base of the mask
As already mentioned, models with silicone seals usually appear on sale. On the one hand, they resist ultraviolet radiation better - they do not dry out over time. On the other hand, and for many this is even more important, silicone is much softer than rubber. When diving to 10 meters or more, this becomes especially important - the mask is pressed under enormous pressure into the diver’s face and a rough seal can cause many serious problems.
The next step is color. Typically, masks for spearfishing have an opaque seal in dark colors - black, gray, blue, green. But in recent years, models with a transparent silicone seal have also appeared on the market. Many diving enthusiasts prefer them - you can enjoy a magnificent panorama, and not just the section of the seabed that is visible through the glass.
However, what is good for ordinary divers is not always good for a spearfishing enthusiast. The fact is that sunlight penetrates under the mask through the transparent seal - especially in good weather and at shallow depths. It not only distracts the underwater hunter, but also turns the inner surface of the mask into a real mirror when hunting in dark water. As a result, disassembling something becomes very problematic.
Tusa Imprex 3D Hyperdry mask
Equipped with a special drainage valve that allows you to remove water from the submask space with just one exhalation.
It has side lenses to provide a wide view when hunting underwater, as well as a rounded seal that fits tightly to the forehead.
Advantages:
- Does not leave marks on the face.
- Provides excellent panoramic visibility.
- It has an affordable price in the range of four thousand rubles.
The only disadvantage, based on reviews, is that this mask does not have an anti-reflective coating.
Mask with diopters
But this is a new product that appeared on the market relatively recently, but immediately gained popularity among a certain group of people. It is not surprising, since underwater hunting is loved by both people with perfect vision and those suffering from myopia or farsightedness. Well, it’s impossible to wear glasses under a mask - you have to be content with a very blurry picture.
Spearfishing mask with diopters
Fortunately, a spearfishing mask with diopters appeared on the market relatively recently. Yes, special glasses are produced that can be installed on a suitable mask to correct vision defects, allowing a person to enjoy all the beauty of the underwater world.
Choosing them is not difficult - just tell the salesperson in the store which glasses you wear. But if one eye has, for example, an indicator of 0.8, and the other - 0.4, this is a serious problem. After all, there is only glass in the mask, and it will not be possible to adapt to such a serious problem. In this case, it is better to take glass that is oriented towards a more “seeing” eye. Otherwise, you can permanently damage your vision.
Problems in use
There are standard problems that may appear when using a mask:
- Fogging. Before hunting, the inside should be moistened with saliva and allowed to dry. Before putting on the mask, rinse it with water from a pond. It is not recommended to remove equipment during a hunt, only at the end. Well, the car rule, when after heavy drinking the day before, the windows fog up, also works here;
- Water is leaking. It is a rare case when the equipment is to blame; more often, the reason is the user himself. Several steps to prevent leakage: Remove excess facial hair;
- After putting it on, we run the finger of our bare hand along the seal, smoothing it, forcing the folded parts to take their natural shape;
- During the hunt we show complete calm; the violent reaction of the facial muscles leads to the appearance of small holes between the skin and the silicone. And water under the pressure of depth easily seeps in there.
Should you use tinted or mirror glass?
There is a legend that a fish quickly leaves when it sees the eyes of a hunter. This is not a fact confirmed by science, because the inhabitants of the water element are more focused on their midline. Therefore, the presence of unnecessary movements or turmoil plays a much larger role in failure.
But there are many inconveniences, the main ones are:
- worsening vision;
- decreased illumination, especially in fresh water conditions;
- the slightest mechanical damage to the glass leads to visible results.
Rating of popular models
To make choosing the right option as easy as possible, we will make a small rating of masks for spearfishing, giving a brief description of the most popular models.
Sporasub Mystic
Sporasub Mystic
High-strength mask with two separate glasses and a black, massive seal that covers almost the entire face. It will be a good choice for swimmers who plan to dive to significant depths and want to be sure of the reliability and safety of the equipment.
Look from Technisub
Simple, lightweight, but at the same time very popular model. On sale you can see models with both a black seal and a transparent one. Therefore, there will be no problems when choosing - every buyer will find an option that completely suits him.
Look spearfishing mask from Technisub
Glass can be replaced with both regular and diopter glasses, and of different powers.
Bandit by Omer
Bandit from Omer
A very successful model from an Italian manufacturer. Lightweight, with a small sub-mask volume, it is perfect for swimming at any depth - both shallow and very serious. Provides good visibility due to the proximity of the glass to the eyes. If desired, you can install diopter glasses.
Platina M-20QB
Platina M-20QB
This model provides good visibility thanks to large, slightly curved glasses. In addition, there is practically no frame on the bridge of the nose - it is so narrow that it does not impair the view at all. The internal volume is minimal, which makes use even more comfortable.
Rating and description of inexpensive underwater swimming masks
The simplest models are mainly made of tempered glass and are intended primarily for beginners in diving and snorkeling.
Nymph
A popular model among divers with a classic large oval porthole. A reliable and practical accessory suitable for any face type. The seal and adjustable straps are made of high-quality environmentally friendly rubber. The accessory is made using wide tempered glass, which provides a sufficient viewing angle when diving.
The mask seal is made of high-quality rubber, and the collapsible frame is made of plastic. The innovative mask is an indispensable piece of equipment for swimming, snorkeling near the surface of a body of water (from 12 years old), and a comfortable and interesting discovery of the underwater world. Average price: from 600 rubles.
Nymph diving mask
Advantages:
- optimal price;
- ease of use;
- quality materials.
Flaws:
- impossibility of diving with a mask to a depth of more than one and a half meters.
JOSS M168-64
A model with an optimal ratio of cost and quality. It has one lens and a nice streamlined design. It is lightweight and fits well to the face due to high-quality elastic silicone. The size of the mask is well adjusted directly on the head, and there is absolutely no discomfort when using it. The equipment does not leak, so you can swim in it for quite a long time without a snorkel. Average price: from 900 rubles.
JOSS M168-64 diving mask
Advantages:
- convenience;
- tight fit;
- budget price.
Flaws:
- no tube.
AQWA-LARS Gamo
A universal model with binoculars for diving and spearfishing at the best price. Advanced technology is used to manufacture the equipment. Thanks to it, a single piece of glass with increased visibility is integrated directly into the silicone, and not into a plastic frame, as in standard masks. This allows you to significantly reduce the under-mask space and maximize visibility in the vertical and horizontal planes. The equipment not only protects your eyes from exposure to water. Using an optical device, images of objects under water are magnified several times. It has an adjustable strap, which ensures a tight fit and water resistance. Average price: from 1150 rubles.
AQWA-LARS Gamo diving mask
Advantages:
- convenience;
- waterproof;
- Magnifying objects underwater using binoculars.
Flaws:
- no tube.
Free Breath
A swimming accessory for the whole face, with which you can not only explore the underwater world. But it is also comfortable and natural to breathe through your nose and mouth. The panoramic view of the equipment is one hundred and eighty degrees, so an underwater walk in it will be unforgettable. The mask has a top DRY-TOP mechanism that prevents water from getting inside. The valve mechanism of this full-size equipment contains a float that closes the air channel. Therefore, if water blocks the upper end of the tube, not a drop gets into the mask. Average price: from 1500 rubles.
Free Breath diving mask
Advantages:
- originality;
- quality;
- not a high price;
- DRY-TOP mechanism.
Flaws:
- inability to dive to a depth of more than two and a half meters.
GoMax GoPro
A professional accessory designed for scuba diving and taking good photographs, thanks to the integrated mount for a digital video camera, designed for shooting in hostile environments and while on the move.
The model has earned popularity among divers due to its ergonomics and high quality workmanship. The headband and fastening straps of the product are made of polycarbonate. Skin-contact mask skirt made of soft, non-toxic silicone. The accessory is made of impact-resistant glass four millimeters thick. And the mount for the video camera is designed at an angle that prevents contact with the face. Average price: from 1950 rubles.
GoMax GoPro diving mask
Advantages:
- improved functionality of the model;
- tightness;
- ergonomics.
Flaws:
- not detected.
How to use the mask
When you bought a mask and came home, so that it does not fog up, the first thing you need to do is degrease it from the factory silicone. Take toothpaste, apply it to the inside of the glass, let the paste dry and crust over, and scrub vigorously with a toothbrush. Another way is to pour a little dishwashing detergent, dilute the inside of the glass with cola, and after a while, clean it with a toothbrush. After these procedures, rinse the mask well. To prevent the mask from fogging up, the glass must always be clean. Before hunting, treat the glass with antifog, you can also use your own saliva.
Shark Beuchat minimum volume under mask, for deep-sea hunting. Silicone is soft. Good viewing angle.
After spearfishing, do not forget to rinse your mask in running water. It must be protected from direct sunlight. It is advisable to store in a cool and dark place.
Choosing a mask for yourself
How to choose a diving mask if they don't have sizes? This “dimensionlessness” only complicates the task of buying the right one for you. Fitting should be especially careful, because it determines whether you will enjoy the dive or constantly fight for your life. And you should start by applying it to your face, carefully removing the hair from your forehead and straightening the contact edge of the mask - it should fit snugly to your face, but under no circumstances dig into it. Next, tighten the strap so that it hangs on your face. One more detail is connected with this point: never put on a mask by stretching the strap - this will lead to the fact that it will not fit well on you over time. It’s better to loosen it with the help of buckles, put it on, and tighten it on your head. Next, gently inhale through your nose. The mask should kind of stick and hold on due to the reduced pressure. If it is comfortable, beautiful and stays on your face, this means 2/3 that it is suitable for you. To be sure, you need to take a few masks and test them under real diving conditions.
