Need Advice On Good Mask

[Butrocious]

I'm pretty new to freediving and spearfishing and the last time I went out, on my way back to shore the waves were really high and crashing hard. As soon as I reached the shoreline, a wave crashed down on my head and took off my googles completely, rendering them lost forever. It really bummed me out because the lenses were custom made for my prescription and cost me like $160. :head

Anyway, it's time for me to get a new one so I was wondering what would be a better mask to have. The Omer Alien or the Sporasub Samurai (Elite or Regular). If you feel you need to recommend something different that will be welcomed too.

And finally, what could I do differently in the future to avoid this problem? Wear my mask around my neck while swimming to shore?

 

[Ale Andres]

did you try the Cressi Superoccio? i love that mask, is the one i use to spearfish and have take it to 50 mts without equalization problems, good fit for small faces, good view, cheap, and you can put graduated lenses.

 

[Fondueset]

I vote Alien. I use a cressi matrix and an alien.

 

[Morg]

I've only owned an Alien and so far no complaints at all. Its put up to a lot of abuse and its still working fine.

 

[Rogert]

I use a cressi matrix and it works great. wide vision, easy equalisation, nice fit.

 

[jimdoe2you]

Let me make this clear:

Alien!!!

 

[cigarlung]

I really like my Falco by AquaLung not a bad price thru scubastore the online store on this website. The mask is soft and has a big nose piece for those of us who are blessed with large noses. The only negitive to the mask is the strap kinda is small. Good luck in your search for a replacement.

 

[Butrocious]

Thanks for the feedback guys. The alien is the one I lost and I only got to use it twice. I just wanted to see if I should replace it with the same one or try the Samurai since it seemed that a lot of people had it. Alien it is then.

Now to address my second issue...how do I avoid losing the new one?!?!?! I don't want to have to buy a mask every other trip to the beach! lol

 

[Fondueset]

Strangely that is not a problem I've ever had. Maybe a secondary strap - neck cord or whatever?

 

[SanderP]

I currently use the OMER Abyss as my primary mask. I can throughout recommend it. I think it has the same internal volume as the Alien.

The Cressi Superoccio, Sporasub Samurai and OMER Abyss should all be based on the same mould. Almost (if not fully) identical masks.

 

[vali]

i use cressi pentax

 

[Jon]

I've owned pretty much everything that has been mentioned so far and my Alien USED to be my favorite- until I bought a Technisub Marina. Now I have a new favorite and just hope to never loose it.

If you wear a hood I would wear the mask strap UNDER the hood to help keep it in place. If your diving in any kind of surf I wouldn't reccomend and kind of a neck strap- better to loose a mask than get strangled in the process.


Jon

 

[Fondueset]

I disagree Jon. And I'm sure, if you think about it, you'll agree; death is better than losing a good mask.

PS - can you PM me the contact info for where you got your Marina?

 

[Butrocious]

If I wear the strap under my hood then I don't have anything to attach my snorkel to...

 

[Jon]

If you want to get one email Nick at Dive Action, a store in Cape Town. His email is: nick@diveaction.co.za


You could put a small slit in your hood and run the snorkel keeper through it to hold onto your snorkel.

I've never had a problem loosing masks, but if I were diving through some big surf I guess it might happen and i would want everything to be as secure as possible.

Jon

 

[azapa]

Great thread: he needs prescription lenses just like me. So, votes on best low volume with prescription lens availability? The suitable ones in the DB Shop don't seem that low volume. Where do you recommend to order from that understands the low volume + prescription combo best?? Online please..

 

[Fondueset]

Welcome to Prescription Dive Mask will put scrip lenses in pretty much anything. I have an alien and a matrix both with lenses in.
Thanks jon!

 

[Butrocious]

Couldn't I just wear the mask around my neck instead of my face swimming back to shore?

Oh and to Fondueset, I got my prescription lenses done by rxdivemask.com He basically custom did the lenses then glued them to the back of the regular lenses. Is this how yours was done or did they actually replace the original lens? And was it to your exact prescription or was it an estimate?

 

[Jon]

Resting your mask around your neck, instead of propped up on your forehead, is something we teach all basic scuba students. This is done for two reasons. First, to keep from loosing gear. Second, many people take a mask on the forehead as a sign of distress and may even jump in to save you if they see this.

If your swimming in I would think that you would want to wear it so you could see- especially if you have an RX mask. I've dove your area many times and never lost a mask, even in surf, so am not sure why you lost yours? When you get to the surf zone just put one hand on your mask as you make your way through it.

Jon

 

[Fondueset]

Well, it is indeed true. The Marina is being taken out of circulation - discontinued.
It will, however, be replaced - hopefully soon and by something available in the states. The SA shop is all out Here is what I got from Technisub

We thank you for your kind e.mail herebelow. The Marina mask has been
> substituted by a mask model having same features, called "MICRO MASK" not
> yet in production.
> At the moment we're not able to state the presentation date actually
> foreseen during the current year 2007 anyway.
> Certainly this mask will be available through our Distributor for USA:

My lenses are glued in and exact (unlike premade lenses you can get with some masks). They have the added bonus of lowering the masks volume. In both cases the lenses work perfectly - on my matrix I suspect they actually increase the field of view.