New excelent freediving mask (Sphera-like)

[trux]

Yesterday, in a nice small freediving specialized diving store in Sête (south of France), I found a very interesting mask. In design it is very similar to Sphera from AquaSphere, but its design is better streamlined. Similarly like Sphera is low volume and very well compressible. I paid 20€ for it. The manufacturer is a rather unknown company from Marseille - Sommap. They offer a quite wide choice of products, including monofins - I think they are mostly low end products sold at huge sport supermarket chains, sport stores, and boutiques around the shore.

The mask is called Flow SI

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They offer the mask with black and with transparent silicone skirt. Unfortunately the black one comes with tinted plastic glass, so it is not suitable for competitions (tinted glass is not allowed). I took the transparent one with clear screen and tested it yesterday in some 25 m (unfortunately I won't find much deeper water anywhere close here). It did not require any compensation at that depth, compressed fine, did not leak, and felt very comfortable during the roughly 2 hours training.

I think it is a good alternative to the Sphera, possibly causing less drag (though it is a question how the more streamline design compares to Sphera's in depth when compressed), and it would be interesting to hear a comparison from someone using regularly Sphera in bigger depths.

 

[Gwaihir]

looks cool
using a pipemask my self these days... now if only the gellyfish culd leave me alone..

 

[Whopperhead]

Trux- Is the lens GLASS or plastic?- I know that's the only thing I don't like about the sphera. (scratch factor)

Thanks for posting- very interested.

 

[SanderP]

That mask sure has a really damn cool design. Too bad the glass is tinted on the black silicone version.

Great post, Trux! Thanks for the information!

 

[trux]

The lens is plastic. I think it also makes the mask more compressible and hence better suitable for deep diving with less equalizing. I know it is a hassle because of the eventual scratches, and also the vision is not perfect, but if you care about the mask little bit and always put back to a protective case after use, it can hold pretty long. I use my AquaSphere Seal (noseless) since three years 2-3 times a week for pool trainings, and almost daily for swimming when at the sea, and it is still just fine.

Additionally, I am pretty sure you can get a very interesting price if you make a mass order with couple of friends - I bet it may be possible to buy it for less than 10€ in bulk. In such case you can pretty much consider it disposable and replace any time it is too scratched.

 

[trux]

The most funny is the safety hint on the packing: "To be used only on surface or in shallow water!" rofl

BTW, it did not fog at all, although I brought it to the training right from the shop.

The plastic lense is made in Polycarbonate. The mask weights 80g.

 

[settingsteel]

I think Sphera are excellent masks...you can dive all day in one and forget its on your face...good post wonder if they have them in the U.S.?

 

[ILDiver]

Tony B. (he's in my friends list) tried a mask that is a lot like the sphera but with a glass lens. He ended up back with the sphera, because the glass makes it so much more rigid. The plus of the sphera is that the squeeze is not as severe, the flex alows you time if you miss equilizing the mask.

 

[trux]

I think Sphera are excellent masks...you can dive all day in one and forget its on your face...good post wonder if they have them in the U.S.?

Well, you could order it on their website (see the link above), but the shipping cost would be probably rather prohibitive at a single mask, so better may be joining a bigger group and making a bulk order. Additionally to the lower shipping, you'd likely get a better price too. Or perhaps one of the DB resident resellers like JimDoe2you could pre-stock a bigger number of these masks.

This Flow mask looks somehow "cheaper" than Sphera (and actually it also indeed is cheaper) - it almost looks like made from a single piece of material. In comparison with Sphera it has almost no frame. It makes it not only more streamlined, but also more flexible. Well, I tested it only once and just to a moderate depth of 25m, so cannot tell how it behaves after longer use or in great depth, but so far it looks pretty good.

 

[trux]

There are some more photos of the mask I took today. I took the same photos of a Sphera mask too, for the comparison, but somehow I manage losing them, and right now I have no camera with me to make new ones. However, the frame of the Flow mask is considerably smaller than at Sphera. Almost inexistent. Also the top of the Flow's skirt if profiled in a more streamlined way, so unlike at other masks, there is only a minimal hydrodynamic disturbance at the lens frame.

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[jome]

I'm sold...Any finns fancy a group order?

 

[settingsteel]

That mask is awesome I can see the similarity but it does look more low profile, and you mentioned it is less expensive than the sphera correct?, Do they make it in black silicone? I would like to order one if so.

 

[settingsteel]

never mind I saw the do come in blk silicone, how are the strap adjustments, I've often seen knock off masks make some great products to later mess it up with a subtle detail, are the strap locks quality?

 

[Mongrel454]

I like the look of the black one

mmhmm postage from france to aust.....ouch

 

[trux]

... and you mentioned it is less expensive than the sphera correct?, Do they make it in black silicone?

In a store where they had both Sphera and this Flow masks, the Flow mask cost around 30% less. At this price the shipping will be the most expensive if ordered individually, hence you better group a bigger order with friends, or persuade your local dealer to order a bigger quantity - it is a type of mask that can be sold easily in big quantities for kids and for recreation both in the pool and in open water, so the reseller won't risk any loss.

As for the black silicon mask, be aware that the glass is slightly tinted. It may be an advantage for recreational diving, but won't be accepted at competitions, and often not even at training (if there is a responsible instructor present, who prefers seeing your eyes during the ascent).

The strap adjustment is quite simple, and looks more robust than at Sphera, but I find it more difficult to release the strap if it is too tight. Tightening is fine, but for releasing you may need to take the mask off your head. Well, it may be a hassle, but one can consider it as an advantage too - at least the strap does not release alone

 

[trux]

To keep the relveant info here in this thread, I copy my post about the inner volume of the mask, from the thread http://forums.deeperblue.com/freedi...mask-internal-volume-database.html#post732691 also here:

First I measured 5 times with the mask only very slightly pushed against the face. The resulting volume was 200 ml (or cm³). Then I filled the jar with 10 volumes of the mask tightly pressed against the face like it is in the depth when not equalized - the result was 36 ml (or cm³).

That makes the compressibility ratio of 5.6 - it means theoretically you could descend to 46 m without equalizing the mask. Well, so far I only tried 25 m, so cannot confirm the validity of the calculation. However, it is very important that the mask is put on your surface only gently when on surface. If you tighten it up already on the surface, the compressibility ratio will considerably drop.

In fact I believe the mask compresses even better in reality in depth, because I just pushed against the frame, while in water the pressure is equal against the entire mask (including the mask skirt and nose pocket). So quite likely the ratio will be higher than the measured 5.6

 

[trux]

I contacted the manufacturer, so I am considering making a mass order especially for members of our club, and could possibly send the masks to other people as well. To see what is the realistic number for ordering, I attached a poll at the top of this thread. If you are interested, you can select several options - for example 2 black and 3 (2+1) transparent masks. If there is sufficient number of people wanting to join, I may be able selling it for around 12€ + the shipping (from France). For those who pass frequently through Lyon, Prague, or Agde (South of France), pick-up may be arranged.

 

[ragman]

Cool ... I would try one (transparent) ... and shipping to Austria should not be so expensive.

 

[trux]

I forgot that the price I got from the manufacturer is more than likely without VAT, and since the EU tax laws are so screwed up for Internet sales, I believe I would have to charge the VAT too even for non-EU residents (except reseller transactions). So it would make the price rather 14.50€ than 12€. Sorry for the omission.

As for the shipping - I think it should be possible to send in a bubble envelope as a letter, but have to check it with the post office - the cost would be then around 5€ for the EU, and below 10€ for the rest of the world. Bigger packages should not be much more expensive - I believe not more than some 20€ worldwide even at 10 pieces.

EDIT: insured shipping would cost extra

 

[azapa]

great initiative trux

i hate all you guys with good eyesight ......

I'm only - 2.5 diopters but it makes me nervous to dive without corrected lenses!