> Anyway any tips for a mask ?
Pardon me for stating the obvious, but hows about one that fits?
Apply mask to face WITHOUT strap. Breathe in through nose, sucking mask onto
face. Now hold your breath, static - NEITHER in NOR out.
If the mask falls off, no good. If the mask stays on, fine.
Having found one that fits, I prefer a mask with a single piece of glass
rather than the goggle-mask, which has a piece of glass for each eye. I find
the bar in the middle intrusive, and if the mask is applied at an angle to
the face I see double.
Having found one that fits, an inexpensive mask is every bit as good as an
expensive one. All you need is a flat piece of glass (or whatever) to keep
an air pocket in front of your eyes so they work as they were designed.
Ken
Osprey - 21 Nov 2006 12:10 GMT
> > Anyway any tips for a mask ?
>
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
> If the mask falls off, no good. If the mask stays on, fine.
I had done that, and as far as fit on dry land it is great ... it may
be that where the 'tear drop' recahes my cheek bone isteh issue when
reg in place.
Sharky - 21 Nov 2006 12:27 GMT
>>> Anyway any tips for a mask ?
>> Pardon me for stating the obvious, but hows about one that fits?
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> be that where the 'tear drop' recahes my cheek bone isteh issue when
> reg in place.
Bear in mind that for water to come in at the bottom, air must be
escaping from the top somewhere(1) - check fit above the eyeline.
1 - Unless your breathing in thru your nose! ;-)
Lee Bell - 21 Nov 2006 14:23 GMT
>> Appy mask to face WITHOUT strap. Breathe in through nose, sucking mask
>> onto
>> face. Now hold your breath, static - NEITHER in NOR out.
>> If the mask falls off, no good. If the mask stays on, fine.
> I had done that, and as far as fit on dry land it is great ... it may
> be that where the 'tear drop' recahes my cheek bone isteh issue when
> reg in place.
You're on the right track. Try the mask test again, this time with a spare
mouthpiece in your mouth.
The extended view masks are notorious for fitting fine in the shop and
leaking like a sieve in the water. In part, most get their extended
vertical view from having a very narrow skirt at the bottom. That narrow
skirt is very sensitive to changes in the shape of your face (don't even
think about laughing in one) and to strap tension. After buying and trying
two of them, I've given up and reverted to the much less expensive Tusa
Liberator, a mask that fits me well and is a lot less sensitive to small
changes. I gave both of the expensive ones away. I expect to hear, any day
now, that the person I gave them to, has passed them on to another sucker .
. . I mean deserving diver.
Lee
Graham Frankland - 21 Nov 2006 15:54 GMT
>>> Appy mask to face WITHOUT strap. Breathe in through nose, sucking mask
>>> onto
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
>
> Lee
After getting fed up with constantly clearing my mask, I recently got a new
one from Frogsborn at Broughton. Only done 2 dives with it so far but on
both occasions it was incredibly dry. It's made by IST (don't know the
model name) big eye design but with a single glass and quite a large
"footprint" around the seal. Good news is, at £29.50 it was one of the
cheapest masks in the shop.
Graham.
> After a lot of advice here, I bought a TUSA Visulator at the Dive show
> (£35 from SDS) - took it to Sharm and it flooded continuously.
> I persevered for the week - but every dive the same.
>
> It just seemed to let water in at the lower right corner all the time
> ... typically needing clearing every few minutes.
I'm happy with that same mask. Just the luck of the face, probably.
Try using it with the strap looser and/or tighter, and in varying
positions on the back of your head. If that doesn't prevent the leak,
you're probably out of luck with that mask.
Here's my theory: that particular mask has a wide, soft skirt and I'll
guess, on your face, that skirt is right over a sharply defined facial
crease made deeper by the widening of your mouth by the mouthpiece,
possibly worse on the right, if your regulator pulls in that direction.
Check how the mask fits with a regulator in your mouth.
> Time to look for another mask ... want a wide fitting one, and prefer a
> 'big eyes' type shape, but assume the extra large Visulator is too big
> and doesn't suit face shape (OK that's me - bit weird I expect)
> Anyway any tips for a mask ?
snip
As some astute poster once said regarding mustache mask fit, look for a
mask with a narrower, firmer skirt, at least in the area where it makes
contact with the problem area, in your case, your mouth creases
perhaps.
Although, a leak over a mustache isn't the issue here, preventing the
lifting of the skirt over a facial crease is similar. The narrow, firm
skirt will mold the face to the skirt a bit more than a wide, soft
skirt.
Also, for a difficult to fit face, I think it's important to check the
fit of the mask with the strap on and with varied amounts of strap
tension, and with a mouthpiece in your mouth. Maybe even while pulling
the mouthpiece to one side, like a hose might sometimes do. Turn your
head side to side; that changes facial contours, too.
You might need a buddy to assist you.
While doing all that, rather than sucking in so hard that you pull the
mask into hands-free position, VERY gently blow out and then VERY
gently suck in just a small amount of air. Try to judge if any air
moves under the skirt anywhere, and how easily it moves.
Note that using too much pressure or vacuum will be meaningless.
Also, look in a mirror while you do this and try to see where the skirt
might lift up. Once you see the problem area, it will be easier to
judge the effect of various adjustments or movements.
Good luck!
HTH.
--
Dave C