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BG next to product categories at left indicated that there is a Buyer’s Guide available.
Masks and SnorkelsMasks The most important criterion for choosing a mask is fit! The number-one reason for become disenchanted with diving is poorly fitting and leaking masks. Check fit by holding a mask against your face without using the strap. Inhale slightly and hold your breath. The mask should hold firmly against your face, and you should not notice any leaks. (But note that if you have a mustache, you may either have to live with some leakage or shave just enough to allow for a good seal just below your nose.) Check for general fit to your face. The skirt should fit comfortably. If your face is wide, for example, check that the mask comfortably reaches around your eye sockets. There should be room for your nose. There should be about 1/8" of space over the bridge of your nose and over your eyebrows. You should also be easily able to reach your nose to pinch it to clear your ears. Other things being equal, look for the lowest volume mask that works for you. Lower volume will require less equalization and less air to clear. Look for good visibility. All masks offered by Aqua Safaris have tempered safety glass lenses and 100% crystal silicone construction. This makes a higher-quality longer-lasting skirt that better conforms to the contours of your face. Cheaper mask use materials which tend to get hard and brittle and may indent your face. These masks may even be touted as being made from silicone, even crystal silicone, the question should be how much and what grade. There is a big difference in fit, comfort and durability. You may wish to consider a flat neoprene mask strap. It is much stronger than a silicone strap, more comfortable and less likely to pull hair. Clean a new mask before use by scrubbing it with toothpaste. Rinse and repeat. This is necessary to remove residual coatings left over from manufacturing which can cause fogging problems. Most divers then rub a little spit on the lenses before each dive to further help in keeping fogging under control, but we also offer mask defogging solution which works better than spit. Snorkels A snorkel allows a diver to breath at the surface with his head mostly submerged. As such most people believe that it is an important piece of safety equipment that every diver should have. It certainly makes for much more comfortable surface swimming. But it also helps drownproof a diver who might have to stay at the surface for any length of time for any reason. There are three main types. A basic snorkel has a mouthpiece attached to a smooth-bore tube. The tube floods underwater and must be purged by draining or exhaling forcefully at the surface. Some snorkels incorporate a purge mechanism located in the base. These can be drained simply by exhaling normally to push the water through the purge valve. A third type of snorkel also adds a check valve at the top to keep the snorkel substantially dry, though this type will still tend to fill up when you go down and may need to be purged on surfacing. All Aqua Safaris snorkels are wide bore to provide adequate airflow and easy breathing. Most are also contoured to fit the diver’s head and reduce drag. Disclaimer: The information provided here is intended solely to help in product selection for trained and certified divers and is in no way intended to substitute for formal training and certification. |
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Sporasub Samurai Mask
Mares Esa Six-Lens Mask
Mares X-Vision Mask
Sherwood Edge Snorkel
Sherwood Absolute Snorkel
Neoprene Mask Strap
Mask Magnifier
Silicone Snorkel Keeper