Mask compromise between freediving and diving

[Val111]

I would like to hear advice: what of masks are good decision for diving and freediving.
What is possible to say about Cressi Sub Big Eyes?

[trux]

Big Eyes is not bad, I use it for freediving sometimes too. Although not really well suitable for competitions (too huge, hence not optimal hydrodynamics), there is no problem for recreational freediving - you can take it deep with no problems, and the wide field of vision is certainly appreciated on such dives.

Even better choice may be Technisub Mikromask. Although it is a freediving mask with extremely low volume, it has pretty big field of vision and can be used without problems on scuba too.

You should test the mask before buying though - the proper fit is more important than any other parameters.

[salibandy]

I think a low volume make with a good field of view would make an excellent mask for both scuba and freediving.

[Val111]

What from these masks you consider as best in this case O.ME.R. Aires 39, O.ME.R. Olympia,O.ME.R. Bandit?

[hudasmt]

Choose which one will fit properly on your face without leak especially during facial movements. I'm also a newbie but have used the search function and did the research. This forum has it all. Just my opinion thou.

[trapper9872]

try the cressi minima. super-low volume, very comfy skirt to fit a lot of faces, and just plain looks cool. I use it for freediving and scuba. relatively inexpensive. field of view narrow but that is what our necks are for.
good luck
Travis

[trux]

The Minima is not really well suitable for scuba diving, and not even for recreational freediving, snorkeling, or spearfishing. Having to excessively use your neck for looking around increases the oxygen consumption, cuts the innervation in the neck, and the blood supply of the brain, and scares off fish. Personally I'd advise against the Minima or any other similar mask. If you decide for a low volume mask, wide vision field masks like the Technisub Mikromask are much more superior.

[trapper9872]

TRUX, with all due respect; obviously you have never used a cressi minima. The lens is so close to your face you get plenty of vis. Bigeye for freediving seems way to big. mask volume is everything in freediving. Go low profile, go low volume, and fit is the most important thing in choosing a mask. The cressi minima skirt fits about everyone.
Good luck and stay wet.
Travis

[GaraTreter]

i use the cressi occhio plus for scuba and freediving, fov is good for both! never had any problems scuba diving with the mask, very comfortable.

[trux]

Yes, I did try the Minima, and many other similar freediving masks and was not impressed. So far the Technisub Mikromask is the one that beats others by distance as for the vision field at low volume goes. However, I do not quite agree that the low volume is the most important at a freediving mask. It is not the low volume that matters, it is the compressibilty - how much the mask is able to compress in depth without the skirt collapsing and starting to leak, while preferably also preserving excellent vision both before and after compressing. The bigger the ratio is, the less you need to compensate the mask. So in fact having a mask with a fairly big volume on surface is not necessarily bad, if it can compress well in depth. Itis definitely better than a mask that has the bottom low volume already on the surface and do not compress more.

Such masks are rare though. The ones that compress very well, like the Sphera or Flow, use plastic spheric lense, do not offer perfect vision (though there are people satisfied with it), and get easily scratched. At the Flow mask I measured the compression ratio of 5.6 (200 ml / 36 ml) , which means you can take it to the depth of almost 50m without compensating. The mask in not suitable for scuba or recreational freediving, though, on my mind.

And the Cressi BigEye is farly low volume for a scuba mask, and can be used for recreational freediving to moderate depths without any trouble. I own the BigEye since it came out, and it served me perfectly on many occasions both on scuba and at freediving. I do not tell it is ideal, but it is a very well acceptable compromise if you want to have just a single universal mask. Today, when I need to pick up a single mask for a trip where I'll be both freediving and scuba diving, I'll take the Mikromask. Before I had it, I used BigEye. But you can use practically any mask you like and are comfortable with, so if you prefer Minima or any other mask, it is just fine.

[sanso]

I have used my sphera for SCUBA and freediving for years. It's wonderful for both.
I also recently got a Micromask and am very impressed. It is my primary mask now.

[sanso]

Hey trapper,

Originally Posted by trapper9872

TRUX, with all due respect; obviously you have never used a cressi minima.

Hmm, obviously You don't know trux very well, then, do You?

[Val111]

My very big gratitude for the answers and advices.
I was see and try many masks.
And selected yet Cressisub Lince. Very small volume.
And completely approach for my face.
Who tried it?