Snorkeling vs. Scuba mask?

[petronius]

This may be a mildly dumb question, but is there a difference between a snorkeling mask and a scuba mask? I just found an old mask in a closet that I know came from one of those mask-fin-snorkel sets from Big 5 or wherever. The brand is U.S. Divers, the glass says "tempered" and I can't see any obvious difference (other than $$) between it and the mask from my LDS. It's pretty comfortable, so I figured I'd toss it in my bag as a backup. Good idea? Bad idea? Insufficient info?

[navyhmc]

It's tempered glass, give it a go. Usually, a Dive mask might be a little beefier and toughter. Depending on the age, it is a dive mask. back in the 90's there was no difference in the two irt USD;

[PTAaron]

Doesn't the main difference come from the ability to pinch your nose to equalize your ears?
I know some of the old snorkeling masks we had when I was growing up didn't have a way to pinch your nose - they were just a big oval. Scuba masks should have a way for you to hold your nose to equalize.

[navyhmc]

Actually, no. Sone of the old dive masks had a flat bottom as well. With those, you push up on the bottom of the mask to seal your nose. Not as effecvit, but it worked.

[PTAaron]

Originally Posted by navyhmc

Actually, no. Sone of the old dive masks had a flat bottom as well. With those, you push up on the bottom of the mask to seal your nose. Not as effecvit, but it worked.

Learn something new every day!

[navyhmc]

But if it is a flattened oval mask, it's from the50's, 60's and early 70's

[petronius]

Originally Posted by navyhmc

It's tempered glass, give it a go. Usually, a Dive mask might be a little beefier and toughter. Depending on the age, it is a dive mask. back in the 90's there was no difference in the two irt USD;

Thanks y'all! I probably wouldn't do anything extreme with a random backup from the bottom of the closet, but I'm glad that if I do use it I probably won't be picking rubber and glass out of my retinas (retinae?) while my buddies mock me for not knowing the difference between two kinds of mask!

FTR, it's definitely newer than the '90s, and in design it looks exactly like my regular mask (with nose pocket)...

[JCM]

Originally Posted by PTAaron

Doesn't the main difference come from the ability to pinch your nose to equalize your ears?
I know some of the old snorkeling masks we had when I was growing up didn't have a way to pinch your nose - they were just a big oval. Scuba masks should have a way for you to hold your nose to equalize.

Couldn't you just swallow to equalize?

[navyhmc]

Originally Posted by JCM

Couldn't you just swallow to equalize?

Doesn't work for everyone....

[JCM]

Originally Posted by navyhmc

Doesn't work for everyone....

Oh. Guess that makes sense. I had the hardest time equalizing when I first began diving and now I don't even think about it.