Did you recently purchase a new mask for diving? Or are you just having some issues with a mask you have? Here are some tips on how to clean a new mask, or just making sure your current mask doesn’t fog up during your next dive.
Why do masks fog?
The reason your mask is, or will potentially, fog when you are out diving (or snorkeling), is because of a silicone gel that may be left over on the lens. This gel attracts moisture, and then create the fog when you are diving. The suggestion below will go through recommendations on cleaning a new mask to remove this gel and prevent fogging.
Clean a New Dive Mask
Here are the best ways to clean a new mask to remove that gel and prevent fogging when you are trying to enjoy viewing the ocean.
Toothpaste
Using toothpaste is the most popular way of cleaning a new mask. What you will need for this cleaning method is some gritty toothpaste. Don’t use gel toothpaste! There are several methods to using toothpaste to clean a mask such as:
- Spread the toothpaste around, making sure to swirl around in a circular motion on the lens. Then let the mask sit overnight with the toothpaste. Rinse the next morning.
- Same method as above, but spread the toothpaste in circular motions, rinse, and then repeat three times.
This method should remove the layer of silicone gel. Just ensure that you clean all the toothpaste off or your eyes may get a bit watery from leftover residue.
Burn method
I will start by saying that the burn method is not a recommended option. However, you will find that a lot of dive operators or divers doing it.
The reason this method is not recommended is that you can void manufacturer warranty. The second reason burning the glass is not recommended is because the potential for the flame to weaken parts of the glass which may then shatter during a dive. Ultimately, I do not recommend burning as a way to clean your dive mask!
If you want to as you think this is the best method, then you will simply run a lighter over the lens being careful to avoid any of the silicone. This will burn off the residue on the lens.
How to Defog Mask Before a Dive
If you want to be certain that your mask will not fog during a dive – even after cleaning the lens as listed above – here are some ways to prep your mask to not fog before getting in the water.
Spit
This is the most common method. Spitting is the cheapest and most eco-friendly method of cleaning the mask before a dive.
The spit method just requires you to spit on your lens and spread it around before rinsing it off. This is one of the methods you can do at the surface or just before jumping in the water.
Baby Shampoo
A lot of carriers recommend using the baby shampoo method as well. This one will require prep before entering the water as you do not want to be spreading the shampoo into the water.
There is a chance that your dive operator will have this during a dive. Similar to the spit method, you just drop some of the baby shampoo in and let it swirl around in the lens. The difference between this method is that you should use a bucket on the boat to clean out the baby shampoo. Please do not put the mask with baby shampoo into the ocean.
Similar to baby shampoo there are options to purchase actual mask defogger that are made for the purpose of defogging masks before a dive.
The process of using a mask defogger is the same as using baby shampoo to ensure you have a clean dive mask.
The downside of a mask defogger compared to baby shampoo is that you will be spending more money to purchase a mask defogger. You can purchase about 10x more baby shampoo at half the price of mask defogger.
Other Tips to Prevent Mask Fogging
There could be another reason that your mask is fogging which the above methods of cleaning a dive mask may not assist with. Some causes that lead to mask fogging include:
- Being too hot prior to entering the water. Warm body, mixed with the cool water could make the mask fog up.
- Sunscreen – while its great to wear sunscreen place the sunscreen around where the mask will be. The sunscreen can cause fogging as well as mixed with the heat of your face. Additionally, this can save you from getting it in your eyes while diving!
- Face lotion – the same issue that occurs with sunscreen can also occur with face lotion.
- Breathing through your nose – some people have realized mask fogging stems from the reason that they keep breathing through their nose. Just ensure that you are breathing in and out through your mouth and regulator.
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