To properly choose an snorkel mask, you must measure your face, determine the shape of your face, and select a snorkel mask size that matches your face measurements. If the snorkel mask dont fit your face properly, water will enter the snorkel mask, preventing you from seeing underwater. Using a snorkel mask of the incorrect size will result in leaks from the mask.
You can measure your face by measuring the width of your nose bridge with a soft measuring tape, taking the measurement at the narrowest part of your nose between your eyes. You can also drop the measuring tape from your nose bridge to your cheekbones to determine the measurement of your cheekbones. Finally, you can measure the distance from your ears when you wrap the measuring tape around your head to determine the length of the straps for the snorkel mask.
How to Choose the Right Snorkel Mask
It is important to take these measurements. By failing to take these measurements, you may purchase a snorkel mask that is too narrow for your face or the snorkel mask may be too short for your eyes. The shape of your face can also impact the type of snorkel mask you should purchase.
People with an oval face generally can wear most snorkel mask sizes. People with round faces should purchase a snorkel mask with a wider frame for their cheeks to prevent gaps between there face and the snorkel mask. People with square jaws may need a snorkel mask with a split skirt to prevent the upper and lower parts of their mask from creating leaks.
People with narrow faces may want to purchase a snorkel mask with a compact vertical height to their face so that the nose pocket will not stretch open. People with high nose bridges or full cheeks may want to purchase a snorkel mask with a large nose pocket or one made out of soft silicone. Men with beards may need a snorkel mask with an oversized skirt so that the beard will not prevent the mask from sealing properly to the wearer face.
Based off your face measurements, you can determine the size of the snorkel mask that will fit best on your face. Children under the age of eight generally have small faces and need a snorkel mask with a small frame. Teenagers and petite adults may have small faces and should purchase snorkel masks in small sizes.
Most adults have medium sized faces and should purchase snorkel masks in medium sizes. People with broad faces need large or extra-large sizes of snorkel masks. In the case of the manufacturer offering two sizes for a particular model of snorkel mask, it is better to choose the larger size of snorkel mask to provide enough space for your eyes and face.
Snorkel masks that are too small may cause pain on the wearers face. Snorkel masks with leaking issues should not have the strap of the mask tightened, as the silicone skirt will seal the mask to the wearer’s face, otherwise causing headaches from excessive pressure on the bridge of the wearers nose. You should also consider the lenses of the snorkel mask when purchasing a snorkel mask.
Snorkel masks with tempered glass lenses are better than those with plastic lenses, as the tempered glass lenses are more resistant to scratches. There are different types of lens tints available. Yellow lenses help to improve visibility in environments with green waters, blue lenses help with glare against the surface of the water, and red lenses help to show colors of underwater objects that is lost at depths below five meters.
Always apply anti-fog spray or use saliva on the lenses of your snorkel mask to prevent the lenses from fogging up. Fogging occurs when the lenses of your snorkel mask become cloudy and your vision gets blurred. To prevent this from happening, treat the lenses of your mask regularly while wearing the snorkel mask.
Snorkel masks come in several price ranges, each with features that better suit the needs of certain types of snorkel mask wearers. Budget snorkel masks tend to be lighter than three hundred grams and have only a single silicone skirt. The mid-range price of snorkel masks may have features such as dual skirts and wider lenses for snorkel wearers who want to have a greater view of their environment while wearing the snorkel mask.
High-end snorkel masks have split designs and offer snorkel masks with low buoyancy, which will not drift from the face of the snorkel mask when encountering choppy waters. To avoid potential problems with your snorkel mask, you should avoid mistakes when purchasing the snorkel mask. Do not purchase a snorkel mask with the strap too tight to your face, as this can cause headaches.
Always remember to perform the suction test for your mask on land. To perform this test, place the snorkel mask on your face without the strap and take a deep breath through your nose to see if the mask remains in place. Do not allow any hair to be under the skirt of your snorkel mask as this will allow for the snorkel mask to leak.
Finally, always rinse the snorkel mask with fresh water after each use of the snorkel mask and store the snorkel mask in a dry place where it wont crack in the future.
