Top 10 Scuba Mask Reviews — Best Models for Snorkeling and Diving
Snorkeling is what opens the doors into an underwater paradise, and you just need to have a good scuba mask to enjoy the scenes of its breathtaking beauty.
And with the many options available this should not be a problem. You only need to know some of the top brands in the market and also what to look out for when shopping for these masks and you will be sure of getting a top-notch one.
Here is a review of ten top snorkel masks currently on the market to help you get started.
Seaview 180° Panoramic Snorkel Mask
Overview:
- Dry Snorkel Technology
- Full Face Design
- 180 Degrees Visibility
- Anti-Fog Construction
- Shatterproof Polycarbonate Lens
- Panoramic Snorkel Mask Durable Strap Design
Seaview 180° Panoramic Snorkel Mask- Full Face Design. See More With Larger...
- Incredibly easy to use
- Perfect for both seasoned adults and youth snorkel beginners
- This mask does not fog
- It allows easy breathing through both the nose and mouth
- Easy adjusting guarantees you a perfect fit
- There are no minor leaks even if you have a full beard
- It will always keep the face dry
- The viewing area is large enough
- Bottom/chin has an exclusive design for easy draining
- Not suitable for deep sea diving
- You have to keep on taking deep breaths to flush air from the mask
- It has some demagnification that makes things feel slightly farther than they are
- Material and construction are not the best
- Panoramic viewing still needs some improvement
Cressi Scuba Diving Snorkeling/Freediving Mask
Overview
- No-Frame Design makes it lightweight
- Large Field of View
- Dry Top Design to eliminate water entry
- Mouth Piece is a soft silicone material
- Easy Adjusting Buckles
- Cressi Snorkeling Gear Set for Adults Low Volume Design
Cressi Snorkeling Gear, Mask Dry Snorkel Set with Bag - Cressi Italian...
- Folds easily and can also fit in a BC pocket
- It is also suitable for photographers and hunters
- This scuba mask is very affordable
- Provides a perfect fit even for people with narrow faces and young divers
- It has a very comfortable mouthpiece
- Cressi Scuba Diving mask does not leak
- The magnifying glass makes everything look huge
- It will fog in some instances
- Straps are not suited for regular and continuous use
- Mouthpiece might be too large for some people
- The nose area is slim and might be uncomfortable for people with big noses
Cressi Snorkeling Gear
Overview
- Adjustable Buckle System
- It is a Dry Top Snorkel
- Leak-Free Construction
- Safe Tampered Glass
- Latex Free Design
- Cressi Snorkeling Gear Facial Silicone Skirt(100%)
Cressi Snorkeling Gear, Mask Dry Snorkel Set with Bag - Cressi Italian...
- Purge valve makes clearing easy
- The set also includes a carry bag
- It has a very comfortable fit
- The snorkel will keep water out even in rough seas
- It is perfect for both scuba and snorkeling
- Snorkel and mask have a stylish and attractive appearance
- The snorkel will fog occasionally
- It is quite an expensive set
- Straps are not easy to use
- Breathing tube looks and feels different from the traditional ones
Tribord EasyBreath Full Face
Overview
- Fresh Air Breathe Ventilation
- Available in Different Sizes
- Panoramic Lens Design(Patented)
- Full Mask Design
- Tribord Easybreath Snorkeling Mask Hypoallergenic Silicone Lining
Tribord Easybreath Snorkeling Mask
- It gives an unobstructed and panoramic view
- This scuba mask will help you breathe through both the nose and mouth freely
- Water leaks will drain away quickly
- The mask never fogs
- Tube has a stopper that works flawlessly to keep water out
- It allows you to snorkel for many hours without having to clear it
- Airflow is quite limited compared to regular snorkeling tubes
- Fitting the mask tight to your face is a little uncomfortable
- Mask also leaves some marks on the face
- It takes some time to get used to it
Phantom Aquatics Mexico Mask
Overview
- Tempered Glass will keep your eyes safe
- Silicon Skirt for maximum comfort
- Splash-Resistant Snorkel
- One-Way Purge Valve
- Phantom Aquatics Mexico Mask Dry Snorkel Set Multipurpose Mask and Snorkel
Phantom Aquatics Mexico Mask Dry Snorkel Set
- Gives you superior comfort thanks to silicone skirt
- Purge valve makes clearing easy
- Ideal for recreational swimming and snorkeling
- Snorkel is splash-resistant to keep water out
- Goggles are from a high-quality material
- The mask looks great, and it will fit different head sizes
- Just like most others, it fogs up
- Snorkel is quite hard to use
- Mouthpiece looks too big for some people
- Small windows and black casing may limit visibility
Cressi F1
Overview
- Tempered Glass Lenses
- 100% Silicone Skirting
- Adjustable and Comfortable Fit
- Easy Access Nose Pocket
- Frameless Design
- Fold-Flat Capability
- Cressi F1 Low Internal Volume
Cressi F1, Scuba Diving Snorkeling Frameless Mask - Cressi: Quality Since 1946
- It is a lightweight mask
- You can be sure of maximum comfort thanks to the silicone skirt
- Adjustable straps reduce drag and give you a flexible fit
- Easy to carry thanks to the fold-flat capability
- This mask also comes with a box for convenient storage
- It is very affordable
- Fogging after a few minutes is its greatest shortcoming
- It is somewhat smaller than most others
- This mask does have a purge
- The scuba mask will start leaking a little bit as it grows old
Octobermoon 180° Full view Panoramic Snorkel Mask
Overview
- Full Face Design
- 180 Degrees Viewing Area
- Crystal Clear Polycarbonate
- Non-Toxic Silicone Material
- GoPro Mount
- Octobermoon Second Gerneration 180° Carrying Bag
Octobermoon Second Gerneration 180°Full view Panoramic Snorkel Mask-Full Face snorkeling Design.with anti-fog...
- Comfortable on the face and easy to adjust
- Fits well even on small heads
- It has an ergonomic and watertight design
- Comes with a carry bag for convenient transportation
- You get an extra washer when you buy the mask
- The plastic smells a little weird
- It is not a one size fits all mask
- The corners may distort your view as they create a blind spot
- Only suitable for surface snorkeling
Phantom Aquatics Velocity Scuba Snorkeling Mask
Overview
- Crystal Silicone Material
- Double Edge Facial Seal
- Unique Push-Button Buckle
- Splash-Prof Snorkel Guard
- Impressive Downward Vision
- High-Quality Twin Lens
- Angled Mouthpiece
- Phantom Aquatics Velocity Scuba Snorkeling Mask Snorkel Set Self-Draining Chamber( the chamber is extra-large)
Phantom Aquatics Velocity Scuba Snorkeling Mask Snorkel Set
- The unique buckle system ensures that you get a perfect fit regardless of the size of your head
- Crystal silicone is a comfortable and very durable material
- Snorkel guard makes it impossible for water to leak in
- The angled mouthpiece is very comfortable
- It is sturdy and very easy to use
- This set is very affordable
- Some people will find it hard to attach the snorkel to the mask
- It will fog up even if you use anti-fog spray
- The snorkel has some trouble clearing water
- Rubber beneath the nose will irritate your upper lip
U.S. Divers Icon Mask and Airent Snorkel
Overview
- Hypoallergenic Face Skirt(Silicone)
- One Size Fits All
- Wide Open Tube Snorkel
- Purge Valve-One Way
- Adjustable Buckles
- U.S. Divers Icon Mask and Airent Snorkel Open Barrel Design
U.S. Divers Icon Mask and Airent Snorkel
- Easily adjustable buckles will always give you a custom fit
- Silicone skirt guarantees you maximum durability and comfort
- You can empty any excess water easily
- It has an impressive price tag
- The mask is aesthetically appealing, and it looks sturdy
- The open top design is a significant disadvantage
- The material is not as soft as what you find in expensive brands
- It may only be suitable for beginners
- You should be ready for some pain if you have a large nose
- The scuba mask will fog up quite often
Optical Corrective Scuba Dive/Snorkeling Mask
Overview
- Double Edge Seal
- Silicone (liquid injected) Skirt
- Low Volume
- Tempered Glass Lenses
- Optical Corrective Scuba Dive Snorkeling Mask Prescription Lenses Adjustable for a personalized fit
Optical Corrective Scuba Dive Snorkeling Mask Prescription Lenses
- Corrective lenses are available for both short and long-sighted people
- It is a medium size, but will fit almost everybody
- You can get different corrective lenses for each eye
- Mask has an effective seal and is very comfortable
- This mask has an excellent field of view
- It is cheap and affordable for most people
- Some people might still not be able to see anything through it
- This mask will work best for people with eye problems
- The lenses are special, but they still fog up
- It will not correct some problems like astigmatism
How to Buy the Right Diving Mask
The ten masks above are not only some of the best in the market, but they also come from the leading companies in the industry. Most people will use the manufacturer or brand as an indication of the quality of a product. Although this is still a good idea, there are several other important things to look out for when buying a scuba mask. These things are what should guide you when shopping for a diving mask, and it is important to keep them in mind, and they include the following.
- Visibility (lens, skirt)
Visibility is the first and most important thing that you should always consider when shopping for a diving mask because it is the main reason why you go out to buy it. The style, quality of the glass and the skirt are the three things that will influence the visibility of the mask. Always ensure that the lens is of a high-quality shatterproof material and one way to ensure this is to go for those with tempered glass instead of cheap plastic.
The style is a matter of personal preference as there are many to choose from but one with panoramic view works well for most people. Silicone skirt, on the other hand, is the best, and you can choose from transparent, or those that are not but this will also depend on your preferences.
- Straps and Buckles
The straps and buckles are what will help you get a good fit, and so it is vital to ensure that anything that you buy has adjustable ones. Silicone straps are perfect because the material provides you with an extra degree of flexibility and stretch, but there are still many other materials with the same capability.
- Frame
A scuba mask can either have or come without a frame. This fact makes things easier because you only have two options when it comes to the structure. However, it is important to know that each will have some merits and demerits. A frame keeps everything from the skirt to the buckles in place and it also allows for the mask to come in various colors or pattern, but they are also expensive and do not fold well for transportation. The frameless on the other hand are cheaper than those with a frame, but will not give you a perfect fit and do not also last long.
- Comfort
A comfortable mask should not be too tight, and neither should it be too loose. You should not just go for something because you like how it looks, but you should try it out and see how comfortable it is on your head. Also, make sure that you can breathe comfortably using both the nose and mouth when wearing the mask and this should not change when you fit the snorkel.
- Purge Valve
Ideally, a mask with a good fit should not leak, but this is not always the case. Sometimes you might not wear it well, or you might bump into something that my shift it and hence leading to a leak. When this happens, it is crucial to have a way of getting rid of the water without having to surface, and this is what the purge valve does. It allows you to drive the water out by breathing through your nose and so it is also an important feature to consider when shopping for a mask.
Single or Dual Lens – Which is Better?
Even with the above essential features of a mask in mind, most people may still have some trouble choosing one. In most cases, it is because they do not know what to choose between single and dual lens. And this is quite understandable because many people are not aware of the difference between the two and so cannot also tell which one will work best for them. A dual lens will in most cases be lower volume than the single ones, and this is good if you will have the glass close to your eyes. However, in most cases, you will not even notice the difference between single and dual lenses.
The Dual lens will work well for people that use prescription glasses as it is easier to find a mask with two replaceable lenses, but if you do not have any eye problems this should not concern you. And so the solution or the bottom line for this is just choosing whatever you prefer by ensuring the mask fits well and feels comfortable because it will not be correct to say one is better than the other.
Sources:
Amazon.com
Ebay.com
