Although many scuba divers rent most of their gear, all scuba divers should purchase their own mask. When you have your own mask, you can rest assured that you will have a well-fitting mask for every dive. When you buy a brand new mask, you’ll need to prepare it in certain ways for your first dive. You’ll also need to learn to care for your mask to keep it scratch-free for many dives to come.
Comfort
If your new mask has an uncomfortable strap that catches in your hair or slides down your head, you might want to replace the strap. Look for a wide strap with a buckle adjustment. Buckle adjustments allow you to keep the mask strap adjusted to the right length for your head. If you find that all silicone or plastic mask straps catch and pull your hair, look for a soft neoprene mask strap cover to go over the strap.
Cleaning
Most new scuba masks have a thin, oily film on both sides of the lenses. Mask manufacturers coat new mask’s lenses with this film to protect them from scratches and nicks during packaging and shipping. You must wash away this film before diving with the mask because the oil could get in your eyes. Place a dime-sized amount of gritty toothpaste on each side of the mask’s lenses and rub the toothpaste around with your fingers. Rinse the mask thoroughly to remove the toothpaste and the film and then let the mask dry.
Pre-Dive Preparation
If your mask fogs up during a dive, you might not be able to see clearly unless you flood the mask and then clear it. To avoid this problem, clean your mask with a defogging solution before each dive. Place a dab of gritty toothpaste or a few drops of mask defogger solution, available at most dive shops, on the inside of your mask’s lens. Rub the toothpaste or solution around the lens with your fingers and then rinse the mask with fresh water. The defogger solution or toothpaste should leave a thin film behind even after you have rinsed the mask.
Regular Maintenance
Clean your mask after each dive to remove any particulates or bacteria that may have gathered on it during the dive. Use fresh water to rinse the mask, and then dry it thoroughly before storing it.
Storage
When you store your mask between dive trips, place it in a hard case to protect it from scratches. Always store your mask with the lenses facing up so they do not scratch against a shelf or other surface. Do not leave your mask on a shelf that gets direct sunlight during the day because ultraviolet light can damage or warp the silicone body of the mask.
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