Assessing Diving Goggles And Masks

When you want to go diving, whether you only do it now and then or it is something you are passionate about doing, you need to make sure you have the right diving goggles or masks for the job. Obviously, they need to fit well but comfortably and keep out the water. Masks are much improved over the ones divers had to choose from 20 years ago, even just 10 years ago. There are different styles and shapes and sizes to fit everyone and the silicone skirt is the best choice to seal out the water while still being flexible. Here is a closer look at three types, frameless, framed and purge valve setups.

 Understanding frameless diving masks

With a frameless diving mask there is no plastic frame around the whole mask. The silicone skirt is attached to the main lens rather than a frame. The lens is essentially the main structural support in this type of mask. It is a style of mask that is most popular with free driving as it is low volume and the window can be positioned very close to the face. This means the mask creates less drag than one with a frame so a free diver can swim more quicker. The less bulky mask also means there is less chance of another diver kicking the mask off. If you swim close to things like rocks, coral and kelp there is less chance of scratching. The only problem with this style is that there are no side windows and you cannot have multiple lenses.

The framed diving masks

The framed diving mask is an older design but it is still the more popular one used today by divers for a few reasons. The frame is usually made of plastic and goes around the edges of the mask. The silicone skirt attaches to it and lenses can be placed inside it. It is a solid option and durable. Later versions have multiple lens options. Having side lenses allows the diver to have better peripheral vision. While some might have a plastic pillar that impacts that somewhat, more recently developed better quality masks have a seamless design. The masks with bottom and top windows do usually end up being too bulky and do not work well.

Purge valves

A purge valve is an option you can have on a diving mask on some models. It is a small valve found under the nose pocket and is a one-way valve that lets you clear the mask without having to perform the clearing methods you will have been taught in your diving courses. The diver just blows air into the mask and water will flow out. Not all of them work very well though, some divers find they leave small puddles they have to deal with and they also make it hard to clear your ears by pinching your nose. Some divers, therefore, forgo models that have these valves.