How to Fix a Leaking Snorkel Mask
How to fix a leaking snorkel mask? Everyone who has ever had trouble with a leaky diving mask knows that it is one of the most frustrating things that can happen while on a dive. The requirement that you continually stop and clear the water from your mask not only prevents you from taking in as much air while diving but also prevents you from enjoying the gorgeous marine life that you are surrounded by. The good news is that there are only a few easy actions you need to take in order to improve your chances of getting a good seal and prevent water from getting into your mask.
READ MORE ABOUT 6 Best Snorkeling Masks for Every Skill
How to fix a Leaking snorkel mask
1. Fitting correctly
If the mask doesn’t suit your face properly from the beginning, you can attempt everything under the sun to get it to stop leaking, but if you do so, you’ll end up wasting a lot of time fiddling with it and trying different modifications and hacks that don’t work anyhow. If you want to be sure that your mask, as well as any masks that come after it, fits you properly, follow these easy steps.
- Hold the mask gently against your face while making sure that your hair is not tucked under the skirt.
- Inhale deeply through your nose and hold it for a moment. If the mask is able to remain in place without allowing any air to enter, then it is likely a suitable fit for you.
- Make sure that the mask skirt presses evenly against your skin all the way around the edge. Beards and mustaches might make it more challenging, but not impossible, to find a suitable seal. Nonetheless, it is still achievable.
- After you have looped the strap back over itself, adjusted it so that it fits comfortably, and tried on the mask, you should evaluate how the mask feels when it is on your face.
- If you want to be sure that you can equalize your ears without damaging the fit or the seal, try pinching the bridge of your nose.
- It is essential to test our wide variety of masks in order to gain a sense of the many shapes and sizes available, as well as to determine which masks provide the most optimal level of comfort and fit for you. Always keep in mind that you shouldn’t put money ahead of proper fit and comfort.
2. The use of Caps and Hair
You will be shocked at how easily even the smallest of objects can break the barrier that is created between your skin and the silicone skirt that is attached to the mask. It only takes a few stray hairs or a neoprene hood that has been ever-so-slightly tucked below it for a trickle of water to make its way into your mask. This may be prevented by wearing a skirt that is water-resistant. If you are wearing a mask that has a purge valve installed in it, then even the tiniest grain of sand can be your archenemy.
Just make sure that your hood is not interfering with the seal by brushing your hair out of the way and running your fingers along the skirt’s edge before you put on your mask. To prevent any stray hairs from blocking your mask’s adjustments, you should carefully brush them aside before proceeding. Ask your dive partner to perform one final visual inspection before you enter the water together. Cover your mask before you jump or roll into the water by placing your palm on your regulator and spreading your fingers over the lens of your mask.
This will keep any water out of your mask. As a result, there will be no water getting into your mask. This will guarantee that your face is shielded from the elements.
3. Tightness
If you conclude a dive or snorkeling session with an impression of your mask skirt on your skin, it’s a good indication that your mask is leaking because the strap around your head is too tight. This may go against what you might consider rational thinking, but it’s possible.
Keeping the mask frame and lenses in the right place with regard to the eyes while simultaneously positioning the skirt for a good seal against the skin is a delicate construction and one that requires careful attention. This is done in addition to the fact that the mask skirt must retain the mask frame and lenses in place. If you tighten the strap too much, the skirt will bend and distort as it is forced against your face. This will compromise the sealing surfaces and create creases that will allow water to enter the mask.
Remember the process that we go through to ensure that a mask fits properly? The entire procedure can be completed without even adjusting the strap. The purpose of the strap is not to improve the effectiveness of the seal; rather, it is to prevent the mask from shifting. Adjust the strap of the mask so that it presses the skirt firmly against the skin while allowing for a comfortable fit. The skirt should not be able to slide freely over the skin.
4. Facial Hair
Facial hair gets in the way of the skirt properly sealing on men, especially in the area right below the nose. The crux of the matter is that skirts simply aren’t designed to work very well with facial hair since the coarse hair tends to pull the skirt away from the face, which then allows water to enter the garment.
Some masks have skirts attached to them that have varying thicknesses. These skirts typically include a portion that is extremely thin and very flexible, and its purpose is to help enhance the seal in the problematic area directly below the nose. A small amount of Vaseline or even silicone grease can be used as a temporary repair to assist in filling the gaps that the skirt is unable to accommodate on its own. Be aware that chemicals made from petroleum, like Vaseline, can damage a silicone skirt over time. This is why you should always clean your mask thoroughly after each use.
5. Facial Expressions
When you are diving, there are times when all you want to do is laugh and smile, but certain facial expressions, such as smiling and frowning, cause the skin under the skirt to fold and break the seal, which results in water quickly filling your mask. It’s something that can’t always be avoided, but you should make an effort to keep the muscles in your face calm and neutral. Your eyes will be grateful.
FAQs
Conclusion
One of the most unpleasant things that may happen while snorkeling or scuba diving is for the diver’s mask to continuously leak water. It makes it difficult to see out of the mask. A leaking mask isn’t dangerous in and of itself, but it can be annoying to frequently stop and empty the mask of water, which can take attention away from the actual observation. It is strongly suggested that you choose a mask of exceptional quality that features a silicone skirt that is made from high-quality material.
In general, we steer clear of purchasing the low-cost masks that can be found in the nook of the beach that is located along the water’s edge. Spending your money on a high-quality snorkel and mask is money well spent, no doubt about it.
