question for the scuba divers here

It`s definately better to buy in person. I find a lot of variation in the fit of them, and the one I used last in Tobago gave me really awful pain on my forehead.

It`s best if you are learning that you can focus on something else than the pain on your face!

? ooh how exciting!

I'd suggest you buy your own mask - dive centres, as a generalisation, have a tendency to get pretty cheap and cheerful masks. It all depends on if it's a hobby you think you're going to pursue in the long-term.

I'd suggest getting a mask that's for diving use. It's all to do with comfort, really. The further down you dive, the greater pressure there will be on the mask around your face.

I have this one: https://www.watersportswarehouse.co.uk/shop/snorkeling/masks/mares-x-vision-liquidskin-diving-474511.html and I appreciate it's expensive, but the things I like about it are the following:

1. It's comfortable to wear,no matter the depth, as the silicone around the face is VERY soft and flexible, so moulds nicely around the face.
2. It gives you a less tunnel-vision effect around they eyes, so you can see around the corners of your eyes, instead of being faced with a black silicone strap.

The most important thing is to try it on in the shop, as one size does NOT fit all. When trying it on, dont worry aboutthe strap around teh back of the head, but definitely put the mask against your face, and suck in air through your nostrils, to create suction. If there are any gaps around the face where the silicone doesn't stick, the mask will let go. (Make sure you wet the silicone ring around the mask, too, before putting it on the face)

HTH ?

Always go in person to buy it to make sure it fits properly.

If you place the mask on your face (without using the strap) and breathe in then the mask should stay on your face. Its called the sniff test I think.

Get a mask that is suitable for diving. Snorkeling masks are only suitable for the surface and might not be able to cope with the pressure underwater.

HTH

I agree with the others. It's definitely worth buying your own as not every one will be suitable for your face shape, and having a mask that doesn't fit properly is annoying, uncomfortable and uses up air as you have to keep clearing it.

Best to buy in person so you can check the fit. Another tip is to buy a neoprene strap or strap cover - especially if you have long hair. My hair gets caught in the rubber straps they come with! Mine only cost a couple of quid but made my mask much more comfortable.

As others have said - you need to try your mask before you buy it. The breath-holding test as you put to your face is the best one.

I would also recommend getting your own snorkel - there are many different makes and some people prefer the rigid tube, others with the flexible bit on the bottom.

Enjoy it.

Definitely go and try it on, a mask is something you cannot buy on the internet.

Like Mrs S Smith said, you need to hold it up to your face, smooth your hair back so that doesn't get under the seal then put it on your face and breathe in through your nose, it should 'suck' to your face enabling you to let go of it with your hands and it should stay there.

There are hundreds of varieties out there, I use a low volume mask which takes less effort to clear should water infiltrate but it is a bit of a compromise as it has reduced visibility compared to others. Go and try a load on and see what fits and what you feel comfortable in.

Whereabouts in the country are you? Might be able to recommend a few shops if you're in the south-east.

This is what I use - http://www.deepbluedive.com/product.aspx?id=10632&currency=152

It's a larger volume when it comes to mask clearing drills, however, the added vision is wonderful, especially when looking down as you have clips and equipment across your body (well I do with my gear set up) and this gives clear vision of everything.

That's the one my H uses, although his has the black gasket not the clear one, he loves it for it's visibility and the fact that he has prescription lenses in it so he can read his computer!

Forgot to add- I ended up getting my own snorkel, too.. As much as I know that dive centres will clean the equipment between different people using it, I just didn't feel comfortable using the same snorkel as someone else had previously. But definitely don't get conned into buying more equiment than a mask and snorkel- BCD and wetsuit as well as regulators, etc, dive centres should provide.

I'd recommend going to the Dive Show, they are in London and Birmingham NEC, if you decide it's a hobby you wish to pursue. There you get the opportunity to take a look at what's available, in the flesh, and since they normally have a lot of people looking at the same equipment as you, the salesmen will be less pushy.

One final thing - if you do your Open Water qual (the standard qualification) I'd suggest trying to get the PADI qualification, rather than SSI. As much as SSI can be recognised, there are places that don't accept it, so you'd end up having to do a conversion course to PADI in order to dive. If that makes sense.

If you have more questions about scuba, feel free to PM me, as I got my DiveMaster qualification a few years ago, and I LOVE to talk about diving

Ahhh, I want to go diving again! ?

I struggled for ages with an old mares one - it was a whole new world when I switched to this and had all round vision. Peripheral vision comes in to play and I see so much more!

I'm naughty - I wear my contacts with my mask, but because they're daily disposable I don't worry too much.

Thanks! ?

We're in Sheffield. I know the Decathlon shop but don't know any other shops where to get them. I don't really want to be spending too much money on it. It's only a beginners course and we're mainly taking it to see if it is something we'd like to do more often.

I had an introduction to scuba diving once during a sports day at high school. I loved it then. We are now taking a transatlantic cruise and onboard they usually offer diving lessons. As ther will be many sea days we thought it would be an ideal time to take it up.

If you're in Sheffield get thee to SDS Watersports and see Arthur and his team. I learnt at Sheffield Uni and we used that shop for everything.

They win the award most years for best supplier. They won't try and sell the most expensive thing to you either.

http://www.sdswatersports.co.uk/

Is Chris still there? BSAC 1st Class Diver, National Instructor and all round thouroughly nice chap. Been on a few courses with him over the years and used to see him at LIDS at Excel. I got my dry suit from SDS but had to take it back unfortunately as we didn't get along. Second the recommendation, they're great in there.

Last time I was there he was, but that's a few years back. He's always very helpful and truthful - explained what was doen to my reg when it was serviced there, recommended my knife and how to look after it and no sign of rust yet.

The course we'll be taking is a PADI one, but not the full open water one. It's called "PADI Scuba Diver certification". It comes with 2 open water dives. If I understand it correctly, it means you're not allowed to dive unsupervised, but 2 more open water dives and some more training will give you the full open water certificate.

thanks for that! It's really close to where we live, so will definitely check it out!

I have just done my PADI scuba diver in the Maldives. Didnt have time for the full open water certification.

I understand it as what you just said plus the fact that you cant go deeper than 12m while only PSD qualified.

My H did his open water with Tigerdive that are on the same site as SDS. They all seemed helpful and fun so I think thats a third rec for them from me.

Good luck with it!