Foggy Mask

[MLenyo]

instructor told me that sometimes you have to scrub the mask a few times with toothpaste to make the mask fog up less.

[Super-Duper Scubasteve]

At OW training, we washed the film off our lenses with toothpaste (a non-abrasive one) once or twice. Add another vote for Sea Gold.

[pyre24]

We used 500psi and of course spit. It is always available. Not many problems with fogging.

[KGNickl]

Originally Posted by BSea

Yes, toothpaste works great for removing the film from a new mask. I was told to use paste & not gel, but I don't know why.

I'd stay away from rainX. Don't put anything permanent in your mask that you wouldn't put in your eyes. You may then ask about the toothpaste, but all the toothpaste should be washed out before you use your mask.

The gel paste is not as abrasive.

[Goober]

Another quick point of interest...if diving in cool water, when you first get in, keep the mask submerged right before you don it. I have found, sea gold or not if I put it on my head or forehead just before a dive....she'll fog no matter what!

[IrishSquid]

Originally Posted by Goober

yes your new mask has a coating on the lens. in fact inside and out. is it a release agent or a protective film? i do not know the answer. gel toothpaste usually lacks the fine abrasives needed to rid this film. I always use sea buff to rid a new mask of film and sea gold for a defogger.

as far as the sea gold being a "rip off" not so sure. i grew up around divers in the 70s and they all used to spit in thier mask...in fact they said it helped. help it will this is an undeniable fact. it has also been my experiance that sea gold long out last the spit. in fact it last an entire dive unless I resurface and go back down. spit last just a few minutes everytime I've tried it.

you could always just keep flooding and clearing your mask if the 5 bucks is too much to spend on the sea gold. i've had mine for a year now. half the people in OW class (16 students) used it for all 4 check out dives, and me and my buddy use it everytime we go and there is still a half of the small bottle left ( i think it is an ounce and a half). Good luck! enjoy!

Yep! Don't forget; spit in the eyes MAY cause infections. Slate cleaner is another good scrubber for the lenses.

[texdiveguy]

Plain old tooth paste works great....work it into the lens for about 5 minutes **(for initial lens cleaning!!). I like the Sea Gold gel as a defogger...... spit just never worked well for me.

[keyshunter]

Originally Posted by texdiveguy

Plain old tooth paste works great....work it into the lens for about 5 minutes. I like the Sea Gold gel defogger...... spit just never worked well for me.

I have often wondered if Sea Gold was not merely a high priced, repackaged, unscented tooth paste.

[jcl06]

I use toothpaste before every dive. i have always had a problem with fogging and have tried every mask defog i can find. some work bettor than others. the best thing i have found is to develop a procedure that works through trial and error. mine goes as followers, i first scrub my mask with hot water and down the night before. wail im prepping my gear right before getting into the water i set the mask into the water for several minutes, then take them out and rub soft scrub in them. rins that out than squirt defog and rub it around. i don't reins this until just before i jump in the water. if im in a spring than as i wade in just before sticking my head under i reins it out.

[Dark Wolf]

I guess anit-fog is like a lot of other things, what works for one don't always work for another. So far I have tried several commercial products, and I have had no luck with them. I can spit in my mask and rinse it, and it will be clear the whole dive.

DW