Scuba diving allows you to explore the brilliant blue world below the surface of the ocean. But if your mask is fogged up, you won't see any of it. A foggy mask is one of the most frustrating setbacks of scuba diving. Most masks fog up because of improper breathing techniques, when a diver exhales through the nose rather than the mouth.
Mouth Breathing
The most effective breathing technique to keep your mask from fogging up is to breathe through your mouth only. Your scuba mask should fit tightly to your face, and should not allow any water in. When you breathe out through your nose, even slightly, the warm air from your body creates condensation, or fog, on the inside of your mask. Breathing out your mouth only will help your mask will stay crystal clear.
Benefits
Eliminating fog-ups in your mask is not the only benefit of mouth breathing. If you breathe out through your nose, you probably also breathe in through your nose, which can cause several problems. If your mask takes in water, you will breathe that water in, causing coughing and other respiratory problems. When you breathe through your mouth, you are able to take in more air, helping regulate your breathing and maintain better buoyancy.
De-Fogging Underwater
If your mask does fog up underwater, clear it by removing the mask or pulling it away from your face to let water in, then purging the mask of water. Simply pull the mask from your face, then reset the mask. Gently press the mask against your forehead with your hand and blow out with your nose gently. The mask will be purged of water and fog-free. However, continuing to breathe through your nose will cause the fogging to return.
Prevention
You can prevent your mask from fogging up with a few strategies. When you buy a new mask, scrub the inside with a mild abrasive cleaner, such as toothpaste. New masks have a protective film from the factory that causes them to fog easily. Scrub out the mask and rinse it several times. Before each dive, use a defogger or saliva to clean the inside of the mask, then rinse with water and apply the mask. If the mask is properly cleaned and prepared, it should not fog up, as long as you use the right breathing techniques.
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