Water in the mask?

[KingBiscuitBoy]

I begin cert classes in May and have been swimming at the gym to make sure I will pass the basic physical requirements. After I'm done swimming my 220 yards I put on the mask and snorkel and swim some more to test out the gear. I have to tighten the mask such that the hard plastic of the mask pushes against my lower forehead in order to get a leak proof seal. It is a nice TUSA mask, with prescription lenses, and it passes the basic fit test, i.e. when I hold it to my face it suck in air through my nose it stays on. Is something wrong or is having a little water in the mask normal?

[frankc420]

Well, it's too tight for one. And, do you have facial hair? Such as, a mustache? If so, shave it off or put some vasoline or something on it to help the mask make a seal.

[Bigg_Budd]

A little water is normal, but you shouldn't have to strap it down to keep water out. The basic fit test is a good rule of thumb, but I have had plenty of ill-fitting masks pass it. It's important that the skirt fit the contour of your face, and like frankc420 says, nothing obstructing the sirt from making a proper seal.

[thor]

Sounds like you might need another mask if you have to tighten it that much.

[Mtrewyn]

I have to shave smooth on the day of diving, Or my mask leaks with or without the strap, so I know it fits.

[Kabniel]

personally i find that any mask i wear will leak slightly when snorkelling due to my 'tache and beard, but under pressure it seals beautifully. As I've said on other threads it doesn't matter what brand or how much you've paid for your mask it's fit, fit, fit!

[CompuDude]

Sound like your mask doesn't fit.

For one thing, squishing any mask onto your face hard will almost always make it stick. That's not how fit is determined.

Secondly, you'll want to stick a snorkel in your mouth when trying out the mask. Doing to changes the shape of your face slightly, so a mask that fit well in a relaxed position now fits poorly with something in your mouth... and unless you want to dive without a reg, that's not a great situation.

From an earlier post I made on this subject:

Originally Posted by CompuDude

Nearly any mask will stick you if you suck in hard
enough. Unfortunately, that's not how the mask fits in real life
once you get underwater. It's also important to try it on with a
snorkel, regular or mouthpiece in your mouth, because that's how your
mouth will be underwater.



Put mouthpiece (or whatever) in your mouth. Get the strap out of
the way. You won't use it all for fitting. Place the mask
on your face, gently, and look straight up. Inhale through your
nose as gently as possible... try to see if you can possibly inhale
gently enough to draw air in through gaps but NOT suck it to your
face. If air rushes in easily, it's not a good fit. If it's
extremely difficult or better yet impossible to allow any air to get in
by inhaling super gently without sucking the mask to your face, held in
place only by gravity as you look up at the ceiling, then you have a
good fit.

[ratown]

And if it turns out that it doesn't fit, try on a dive rite frameless. It seems to have one of the best skirts I have seen and really gets a good feel on lot of people faces. You got to try it to know what I mean... Some masks don't fit right on some people. The mask I got never leaks unless I smile real big.

[mixahl]

Echo everyone else's comments....you can probably return it since you just used it in the pool.

[frogman159]

I used to exhale a little bit out my nose without realizing it, this made a little water get in when the air would slip out. Just a thought.