How to Choose Your Perfect Scuba Mask and Snorkel

Published On: April 7th, 2025

As a PADI Divemaster candidate, you should already have or be looking into purchasing the ABC basic equipment of diving. If you are unsure what this is, take a look at our blog: What Diving Equipment Should I Own as a PADI Divemaster? In this post, we will cover 2 out of the 3: the scuba mask and snorkel and how to choose the perfect ones for you. There are tons of choices out there on the market all having their own stand out features. It can be difficult to figure out what suits you best. Choosing any new dive equipment is fun and a great way to show off your personal style with a signature colour or design. Alongside this, we have shared a few practical considerations and tips on what to look out for when choosing your mask and snorkel.

Choosing your scuba mask

The main reason why we wear a scuba mask in diving is because our eyes cannot naturally focus underwater. The scuba mask creates an artificial air space that allows us to see clearly underwater. Scuba masks have been developing for years and nowadays, they provide users with a ‘maximum field’ giving better downward and wide angle views, taking full advantage of the eye’s natural vision.

Here are the names of the parts of a standard scuba mask:

Fit is extremely important when choosing a scuba mask. You need it to match your specific face and facial contours correctly. Because of this, there are two tests you should do to before purchasing a mask to ensure it feels comfortable for you:

1st Test

Remove the head strap or move it in front of the face plate

Holding the mask against your face looking forward

Inhale slightly through your nose

Let go your hands from your mask

Shaking or turning your head. Check if the mask is able to stay on your face comfortably without losing suction or coming loose

2nd Test

Remove the head strap or move it in front of the face plate

Place the mask lightly against your face and look up

Check that the entire edge of the mask skirt rests evenly against your face so that it matches the contours of your face

So you now know how to find a mask that fits correctly. There are couple other important things to consider also when buying a mask:

Firstly, you want to make sure that the lenses are made of strong tempered glass to withstand the pressures underwater. Furthermore, tempered glass is much safer as if it breaks, it clings together forming fewer sharp slivers. Also, it is good to see that you can adjust the head strap of your mask. Popular masks tend to have a buckle on the sides of the mask that you can snug and release making strap adjustment seamless.

On top of this, there are a few other features to consider that will suit your personal preferences:

  • Clear vs coloured silicone skirts: a clear skirt allows for more peripheral vision and light on your face whereas a darker skirt reduces glare and stray light. This could be potentially better for underwater photographers/videographers to focus

  • Silicone/latex vs. neoprene/fabric head strap: silicone prevents slipping, but neoprene/fabric straps may offer more comfort. You can purchase mask straps covers that are normally made from neoprene to put over silicone/latex mask straps.

  • High vs Low volume: this relates to the volume of air between your mask. High volume increases the feeling of openness and greater peripheral vision, but requires more effort to remove the water from the mask compared to low volume masks.

What if I have problems with my vision?

There are few ways to accommodate vision correction whilst diving:

  • If you are far-sighted or have a strong astigmatism, you can purchase a prescription scuba mask. A great off the shelf option to consider is the Promate Sea Viewer Dive Mask with Prescription R/X. You can also get corrected lenses bonded into the tempered glass of a normal scuba mask. Check your local optical shop to see if this is an option for you.

  • You may wear contact lenses with your scuba mask unless your opticians recommend otherwise. Just be mindful to wear soft contact lenses which are gas permeable. Always make sure to carry a spare pair around just in case as there is a small likelihood of a lens being lost from time to time when your eyes are exposed to water e.g. when clearing your mask.

  • You can consider getting laser eye surgery prior to scuba diving. There are no reported complications diving with laser corrected eyes providing that you leave time for them to heal (normally around 3 months)

Additional features

As well as the important stuff above, it’s good to understand some additional fine details of scuba masks that separate high-end masks from the lower-end masks. Equipment is an investment for your safety and comfort underwater and incorporating a few of these details to your final decision may be valuable:

  • Feathered skirted edges: This is where the rubber skirts thins out towards the edges making the skirt in contact with your face more flexible for a more comfortable fit.

  • Double skirt: This is an additional second inner skirt on the mask so there is a double seal again providing more comfort. This second skirt extends around the entire edge except the very bottom allowing water to drain easily when clearing your mask.

  • Purge valves: These are one way valves located on the bottom of the nose pocket which allow you to clear your mask without having to tilt your head. This could be beneficial for divers with limited hand use.

  • Special lenses: This includes coloured lenses which make colours underwater look more ‘normal’ or lenses with special defogger coating. These tend to be an unpopular choice amongst divers as many prefer clear lenses and making sure to defog before each dive isn’t a great issue.

  • Heads-up displays: These are a more up and coming piece of equipment on the market. Also known as a hands free dive computer, it is an attachment that can be placed on top of the scuba mask that projects your dive information right onto the lenses.

Choosing your snorkel

Another piece of the ABC basic equipment of diving you need to have with your mask is a snorkel. But why is this required? We don’t scuba dive with a snorkel. It is mandatory for safety reasons, especially for a PADI Divemaster. The reason being is that it is very possible that you may surface the dive well away from the boat or the shore with little or even no air in your tank. In order to efficiently swim on the surface to the exit location, a snorkel is extremely helpful to help you conserve energy and handle swimming in conditions that are not easy e.g. if there are large waves or strong surface currents.

Snorkels consist of a plastic curved barrel (tube) with a silicone mouthpiece at the end. Though there a few things to consider when purchasing the right snorkel:

  • Size: You may think that purchasing a longer snorkel is better because it sticks higher above the water. Although it is important for the snorkel to be long enough to stay above the water, this isn’t the main thing to consider. The main concern is keeping breathing resistance down so it is easier for you to breathe through it and that it isn’t too big to clear. A snorkel that is too long will actually end up accumulating carbon dioxide due to it having a larger dead air space. You should also consider the width of the snorkel so that it isn’t too narrow to make breathing harder but also that it isn’t too wide that it is impossible to blow the water out. Snorkel nowadays range from about 35-45 cm/15-17 in in length and from 19-25 mm/0.75-1 in in internal diameter.
  • Mouthpiece: Ensure a comfortable fit of the mouthpiece. Think about getting a snorkel with an offset mouthpiece or a swivel which can be adjusted for custom fit. This allows the angle of the snorkel, in respect to the mouthpiece, to be more perpendicular to the surface of the water, allowing better water clearance.
  • Flexible or rigid and a foldable design: This is really down to personal preference. If you decide to buy a flexible snorkel make sure to purchase one that is smooth internally and not corrugated. Internal corrugated snorkels have a higher breathing resistance and are much more difficult to clear. In addition, getting a snorkel with a foldable design could be handy firstly to travel with and also give you the option to carry it in a pocket on a dive instead of being attached to your mask.

  • Self-draining barrel: This is a one way valve located at the base of the snorkel which helps to expel water from the snorkel more easily. When expelling water from the snorkel, water is removed through the valve as well as the top of the snorkel. This is quickly becoming a popular feature of snorkel for scuba divers.

  • Attachment system: One of the easiest ways to lose a snorkel is while entering the water. A good attachment system is important to prevent this from happening. The most popular and easy one is the clip on clip off, though this isn’t recommended. Instead look into getting a rubber snorkel keeper without quick release to attach your snorkel.

Do you have any questions?

Need some recommendations for your scuba mask and snorkel? Contact us for more information, we will gladly share some of our favourite models and have a conversation around purchasing equipment in general.

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