Low vol. mask with better peripheral / vision than Cressi Superocchio

[pelagicbeing]

My regular mask for the last 6 years has been a Cressi Superocchio. I have found that they are fantastically comfortable over long days diving, have a good seal especially in rougher surface conditions / cold water, and have a good low volume.

However i am about to retire my 2nd Superocchio, and am considering other models, as i would like to have a wider field of vision if possible. I use an Aquasphera mask for diving calmer / deeper / warmer waters than the UK, but find that it doesnt work so well for me here .

I freedive recreationally, and am more often than not photographing / filming marine life. I am finding that i am occasionally missing some opportunities due to not seeing some larger fish due to the relatively narrow field of vision of the Superocchio.

As most spearos will tell you allot of fish dont like to be looked at directly too much, especially here in the uk (must be shy! or maybe i just look funny?rofl ), and allot will approach from behind you / side on and not front on. I feel with a wider peripheral vision i would have a better chance of indirectly seeing allot more of what is hovering around my peripheral vision, and be able realign myself to be able to photograph them, rather than having to turn my head and potentially scare them off.:wave

I am looking at the Imersion Wahoo, i would be grateful if anyone could share any experience of this mask in comparison to the superocchio, or recommend any comparable low volume mask with a wider field of vision?

Any advice gratefully received.

Many thanks

Pelagicbeing

 

[Narsil]

Have a look at an Omer Abyss, sounds like it might suit your requirements.

 

[ncunuclear718]

I will go for Cressi-Matrix or Cressi-Penta dark
Both are new Model!

http://cressi.it/intro.php?lang=us&id_catalogo=1&id_categoria=16

 

[Fondueset]

I use the matrix - no doubt excellent vision all round - not in the same class as the superochio volume-wise however. This mask has outstanding vision down, sideways and up - and is great for photography or spearfishing. You can look nearly to the corners of your eyes. The omer alien is another one I use - lower volume and good field - though not as good as the cressi.

 

[pelagicbeing]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions i shall have a look at them all and see how i get on.

Thanks again,

Pelagicbeing

 

[pelagicbeing]

Just looked at the cressi site again, and the Cressi 'Lince' apparently has a lower internal volume than the superocchio, and by the design of the lenses it looks like it would have slightly better range of vision.

Pelagicbeing

 

[SEDATE]

i use occhio and focus/cressi., i tried others..returned to cressi again..anyway lince...i saw it ..i did not test it..if you test pls joint down here mate! :crutch

 

[Fondueset]

I have tested the lince. It has nothing on the Omer Alien visibility-wise - and considerably less peripheral vision than the matrix. It also will not seal on my face. I would recommend the Omer Alien over the Lince. The alien has softer silicone, compresses more easily and has at least as good peripheral vision. I use the alien and matrix. Alien mostly during the winter.

Heres a summary:

Matrix: Outstanding visual field, moderate volume, somewhat tricky fit (try it for sure).
Lince: Lower volume, substantially less peripheral vision, Temperamental fit. Silicone is relative stiff compared to alien. Seems like it is made for children or adults with small faces.
Alien: Low Volume, Peripheral vision same or slightly better than the lince, very soft silicone, very compressible. Visual field improves as mask compresses - compression of this mask is more tolerable than the lince because of the soft silicone.

 

[Jon]

Here's another vote for the OMER Alien.

The Cressi Superocchio and the OMER Abyss are based off of the same mold- they look identical but the silicone composition is different. According to tests done in HSD magazine the Abyss actually had a slightly smaller internal volume than the Cressi. The reason I bring this up is that the Alien is suppossed to have the exact same internal volume as the Abyss.

I love my Alien and find that it has a fairly wide field of view and low volume for diving to depth.


Jon

 

[Fondueset]

I agree. While I generally prefer the Matrix for most of the diving I do (Really Awesome visual field). If you take the Alien 8-10 meters down and don't compensate it you get nearly the same vision as the matrix. The alien's very soft silicone allows you to put off putting air into it without feeling like your brain is getting sucked out through your eye-sockets. The only think I could fault it on is the nose pocket - which is too turned up if you have an unusually large nose.

 

[BennyB]

The Cressi Matrix has almost as good a field of vision as my old glasses. I loved the matrix when I was spearing. Only reason I don't wear it now is that I mostly rope dive and use a Sphera for that. For my face (little bit rounder) it fit perfectly. I wear contact lenses and am paranoid that water will get into the mask. I've never had this problem with the Matrix. Very soft silicone and I don't need to compensate it much, I think it's a smaller volume than it looks.

Brilliant mask.

Cheers,
Ben

ps - Cressi - where's my commission??

 

[SEDATE]

sorry folks..
thread about ''low wolume mask'' matrix/cressi is very large and need more air to eq at mid-water also., i understood first the lince is very very low volume than ochio...but i ll check alien...next tme...
thnx sharing your experiment

 

[pelagicbeing]

Thanks everyone again for all the feedback,

I have decided to take a chance and ordered the lince, and should have it in about 7 - 10 days. Will post my findings / thoughts after a test run.

Out of interest are there any budding 'Archimedian' scientists :king out there how have any ideas on how to measure the internal volume of a mask? As i could then measure and compare the Aqausphera / occhio + Lince and post the results (anything more accurate than putting the mask on then filling it with water and then measuring how much water goes in??)

Obviously the internal volume will vary very slightly depending on the face that is filling it, and in the long run it doesnt really matter, but might be interesting to find out for any future enquirers....


Pelagicbeing

 

[Marwan]

i also have a superocchio but since i am mainly spearfishing i went for the penta its awesome quite low volume and the vis is just super, big lenses and side panels.

 

[Fondueset]

I wouldn't rank the matrix as 'very large' - I'd put it more in the medium/low volume category. It's definitely not in the same class as the superochio or sphere (by a long shot) but is not far from the lince and alien. The lince has quite a stiff frame - It does not compress as well as the alien and compressibility is as much of a factor as volume when it comes to equalizing. A mask can have quite large volume but this will not matter if it does not require equlizing because it compresses easily and comfortably.

 

[Mr. X]

The Lince 2 is very small & low volume but I found the field of view smaller than that of the Matrix mask; you give up something for that super low volume. Being quite large, I much preferred the Matrix but both fit well enough to dive in. The Matrix felt very low volume too (the practical difference seems small).

Also worth considering: Omer Alien (I agree with Fondueset's comparitive description above) & the Seacsub X-Low combat, which is similar to the Alien (for an image, & other info you might want to check out this thread: http://forums.deeperblue.net/showthread.php?t=63435&page=2).

 

[gserghiou]

To Measure the internal volume of the mask !!!!!!

Do teh following simple test !!!!

You will need a few basic things !!!!

1. A face. Use your face as this is the face you are mostly interested in using the mask. :t

2. Some water... Tap water works just fine rofl

3. A container i.e a bowl or something (to collect water)

4. A measuring tube in ml (u can use your wive's cooking utensils :rcard when she's not in , otherwise she will :ko you.


To measure the internal volume:
---------------------------------
Take the mask..... Fill it with water and while holding it so that the water remains in the mask, push it on your face GENTLY !!!! just to make suer the silicone skirt is all around your face. some water will spill out and some will get trapped inside, ideally filling the whole internal are between your face and mask...Air should not be present inside the mask for more accurate results. Do this carefully and the internal volume of the mask will be filled completely with water. take the container from item 3 and put it under your face...Empty the water in teh container. You have now the internal volume of the mask in liquid form...now just take your measuring jug or tube and put the water from the container in it and measure it.....


you can now do the same for the other mask...

Please post your scientific results !!!!!!!

Its interesting to see how the mask internal volume differs from person to person....


Thanks,

George

 

[pelagicbeing]

Thanks george! Much simpler....now i just need to find a small enough increment measuring syringe / pippet...and a scientific assistant called 'Beaker' *meep,meep* rofl

Will try and do this as accurately as i can, drying off the external surfaces of the mask and face before emptying etc.

Who ever said science couldnt be fun!!

Will try this with my aquasphera and superocchio this weekend and the Lince when it arrives, and post results.

Pelagicbeing

 

[pelagicbeing]

Well the Lince finally arrived....and the verdict: EXCELLENT! :inlove

I tried the 'mask volume measuring experiment'....it was messy and i dont think very accurate. (plus whilst great fun, walking around the bathroom looking out of a mask filled with water and trying to find items is hazardous!)rofl

Unfortunately I could not find a really accurate measuring tool , so used a measuring jug and marked off the levels of water that remained from each mask, which gave me a visible indictaion of the difference between volumes but no actual numerical measurements. (might try this again in the future if i come across a more accurate method / tool.)

The Aquasphera needless to say was lower volume than the Superocchio (SO) and the Lince, but we are talking small amounts here, and probably only really relevent to those diving -30mtrs and deeper, plus the aquasphera is allot more forgiving on mask squeeze, allowing you to 'get away with more'. But the Lince and SO were the same as much as i could summize from x2 attempts at measuring

In terms of visibility, the Lince has much better downward vision than the SO and slightly better Upward and sideways vision.

The real test was this weekend when i christened it on its first dive. I prepared the mask with 'the old toothpaste scrub on the internal lenses trick', and even took another mask on my float as back up in case of leakages / uncontrollable fogging etc.

I neednt of bothered, it was fantastically comfortable and not a drop of noticeable water enetered the mask from when i put it on to when i took it off (approx.3hrs). depsite all sorts of mouth wiggling / smiling / wrinkling my forehead / snorkel in and out etc.

Whilst the field of vision is not radically different to the SO, it was enough for me to forget i was wearing a mask at some stages. With the SO, i am always slightly aware that there is a mask between me and the sea, a very slight tunnel effect from the rim of the mask, but not so with the Lince. It also gave me a much better overall view of below me when floating at the surface, and also of the seabed when lying front down on it (good for the watching lizard fish etc.)

I took the Lince down to -20mtrs, and there was no observable difference in clearing it compared to the SO. However i noticed that surfacing from deeper dives that inhaling the mask air as it expanded was not as easy, (but by no means difficult) as the SO due to the Lince having a very slightly narrower nose pocket. This was not enough to cause any problems but just a point observed.

Conclusion: i am really pleased with it and wish i had bought one sooner! It is as comfortable if not more comfortable for me than the SO (which i rate as one of the most comfortable masks i have worn) The only slight downside is the price, it is quite a bit more than the cost of a SO these days, but for me it is worth it, especially if i get 5yrs + diving out of it like my old SO.

pelagicbeing

 

[Fondueset]

Worth noting - I think the Cressi masks are generally a pickier fit than some. For me the Lince simply will not seal on my face. The Matrix does - but must be properly fitted. This in contrast with the Omer Alien - which I can pretty much just stick on.