Foggy Mask

[MicahEW]

I keep having problems with my mask fogging up. Someone at my LDS sait that it had some kind of coating on the lense that I had to clean off using toothpaste. Is this true? Will the grit in the toothpaste scratch. Can I use Rainex anti fog on my mask or is the antifog that ST and my LDS carry specially formulated for masks?

[RoyN]

You could use Sea Gold slime or Sea drop.

[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.

[DivingCRNA]

Originally Posted by MicahEW

I keep having problems with my mask fogging up. Someone at my LDS sait that it had some kind of coating on the lense that I had to clean off using toothpaste. Is this true? Will the grit in the toothpaste scratch. Can I use Rainex anti fog on my mask or is the antifog that ST and my LDS carry specially formulated for masks?

Only use Rainex if you want Rainex in your eyes....

Scrub it with toothpaste and spit (Do not pay for defogger, it is a rip off) and rinse before every dive. Old masks do not fog nearly as bad as old masks...

[wheelman]

Toothpaste or Soft Scrub will take the film off of a new mask. Gel toothpastes don't have any abrasive.

[terrillja]

Toothpaste to get the coating off a new mask, J+J baby shampoo for defog. Works great, and if any gets in your eyes you won't have a burning sensation.

[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!

[Soonerwink]

I bought an Atomic mask last year that I scrubbed with toothpaste, Sea Buff, 3 times and even ran it through the dishwasher and it still would fog. Atomic had me send it back to them, they said they cleaned it with alcohol and sonic cleaned it. It doesn't fog anymore.

[rox@ucf11]

Originally Posted by DivingCRNA

Only use Rainex if you want Rainex in your eyes....

Scrub it with toothpaste and spit (Do not pay for defogger, it is a rip off) and rinse before every dive. Old masks do not fog nearly as bad as old masks...

old masks do not fog nearly as bad as old masks lol crna had to point it out there

also about sea gold i have tried it and my mask still fogs up but my spit works great will last me the whole dive and it never fogs, with the sea gold it was gogging every coupla of minutes talk about annoying

[johnyringo]

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!

Good point!
I use "Sea Gold" as well as "500 psi", both work great. I've found the 500 psi to work on multiple dives in warm water, less in cold. One application, 2-3 dives. Beat that with spit.