ok, hands down which is the best mask?

[Crypple]

Gday everybody,

Firstly I must say I'm impressed with the level of knowledge and thought that goes into the posts on this forum! Now I'd like an opinion on probably a very difficult question, which mask is best for freediving?

As a diver I'm a huge advocate of the Cressi Big eyes as it helps me see my gear well, however I'm having severe problems equalising past 33 meters, I figure a lower volume mask would help?

I would take Erics advice and go straight out and buy a Sphera but I am (logically or not) hugely baised towards glass lenses after seeing a sphera lens explode on a buddy at 50 metres while scuba diving. So here are the criteria:

1. Glass lense
2. Comfy and black skirt
3. As low volume as possible
3. Would be nice if it was suitable for hunting as well

If anyone could give me their opinions on a shortlist of masks to try I would really appreciate it. Andy and Goldie (45ml mask) sign me up for one of your masks when they hit production stage... impressive stuff, especially with the curved lense!!

Cheers all

Crypple

 

[Johan]

..it's not that easy..
..if you get a mask that dont fit YOUR face, that is uncomfortable to wear, that leaks...it wount matter how small the internal volume is or what material the "glass" is or what collour/material the skirt is made of..
find one that is comfortble to YOU and let that be the first creteria..if you are constantly irritated by how it feels, smaller volume might not be as beneficial as you'd hoped..if distorted vision ( like in the sphera ) makes you feel dizzy, will you feel comfortable after a few hours in the water?...

..I love my Mares Target. it's almost like it was made for ME...even after not shaving for a few days and with the straps as loose as they get, it doesnt leak at all, I can wear it for hours..
..the sphera on the other hand is SO uncomfortable to me, that I rather dive without a mask...

..equipment that lets you forget about..eh..equipment, and just dive, is the best equipment there is...

Johan

 

[Bill]

Crypple
Make sure that you try the Beuchat Mundial. Comfortable, room for a real nose, glass, good viz and low enough volume for 70 meters.
Aloha
Bill

 

[Erik]

I'm having severe problems equalising past 33 meters, I figure a lower volume mask would help?

It's a band-aid fix amigo. You're at the point where your not able to access the air in your lungs due to the massive compression they're under at that depth. Check out Eric Fattah's Frenzel-Fattah technique and you'll be golden! http://www.liquivision.ca/downloads.html
Fix the equalizing problem and you wont worry so much about the mask volume, especially for hunting. Youd don't want a mask that's so small you can't see your potential prey.
Peace,
Erik Y.

 

[Crypple]

Thanks Eric, that sounds like exactly the problem I'm having.

I feel fine until that barrier hits then I have to flare out to break my freefall which sucks as it breaks my concentration and speeds the heartrate. I'm also confused when I see threads with guys diving to 50+m with regular masks compared to my own experience. I've read the paper and I am naturally able to frenzal as I never need to touch my nose while scuba diving, and the mouthfull technique sounds like the go...

Thanks for the advice, really appreciated, however I would like your opinion on the "which mask" issue

Thanks Bill for the Beuchat prompt, they make good guns so I'll check it out! I've been looking at a lot of record setting type pictures and videos (such as Yasmine's site) and most of the support freedivers etc are wearing OMER masks... maybe there's something to that

 

[Jon]

It really helps to be able to try them on to see what fits you best.

I have a wider face and really like my OMER Alien mask for spearfishing, but my Omer Abyss doesn't fit quite as well and has a narrower field of view. Both masks have the same internal volume.

For line diving, and underwater hockey, I really like my Sphera. Yeah, the plastic lens is something to get used to and I do need to get a new one about once a year since the lenses scratch so easily, but the field of view is great and it's my favorite for deep diving. The strange thing with this mask is that I love it for freediving and don't have too much of a problem seeing through it, but when I put a tank on my back I really notice how much it distorts things.

There are some masks that are very similar and are used by many divers, if they fit your face: Mares Target, Omer Abyss, Cressi-Sub Super Occhio, Picasso Nulla, ect. I don't know who made that mold to start with, but they certainly have gotten a lot of milage out of it.

Jon

 

[Fondueset]

I'll give the alien a thumbs up. A couple days ago I was using it with no strap.

 

[Erik]

Thanks for the advice, really appreciated, however I would like your opinion on the "which mask" issue

I love the Big Eyes or other versions with the same frame. I've dived it down to 30 metres with no problems, plus it's superb for hunting. There's a noticeable difference in extra equalization compared to a Superocchio or Minima though.
Peace,
Erik Y.

 

[Murat]

I will vote for alien too Hovewer its glass or may be plastic lense, did not checked for to be sure but i think its not glass is very close to eye. Slicon skirt is very soft and there is no frame. Sometimes when i don't equalise the mask properly lenses stick on my eyebrush and disturb the vision rofl

 

[Alison]

Both Colin and I have the Alien too, the fit is perfect on us both Dont know if its the best mask but it must be in the top few for spearfishing, I think the lenses must be glass because toothpaste doesnt scratch them

 

[Fondueset]

Definitely glass

 

[Crypple]

Cheers all, nice to hear from the hunters! :wave Hey what do you guys reckon about the Cressi 3000's? The freedivers seem undecided as to whether they are too stiff, how about us spearo's who spend so much time travelling around?

Quick but much felt thanks to Eric with your advice on the equalising issue. I hit 35 today using the mouthful technique with noticably less trouble equalising than before, still yet to nail it completely but thanks for the leg up!

 

[Jon]

I got to try the 3000's a couple weeks ago and hated them. The other guys who owned them loved them. I would much rather have a pair of plastic balde sporasub fins. For what the 3000's retail for I think the Waterway NEMO fins would be a much better buy.

Alien mask is glass and I've had it down to 30 meters without a problem. It has the same volume as the Abyss, but much better vision.

Mouthfull technique is aswome. I added 25' onto my pb as soon as I learned it.

Jon

 

[Murat]

got the 3000 for quite some time,lots surface swimming and hunting up to 9 hours. They did not let me down. I did not owned any other so i don't know any better for yet

 

[john141267]

Hi Crypple
Your problem of reaching limit in eqaulisation isnt really to do with volume of your mask or lungs for that matter ,its to do with the flexibility of your ribcage / general thorasic area to cope with pressure. A lot of it has to do with being relaxed at depth and the correct head position which should be tucked in looking at the descent line. flexiblity and relaxation is achieved by repeating the same depth over and over until it becomes really easy. Once the body is completelty relaxed you will find that the remaining air in the bottom of your lungs can come up to be used for equalisation. Thats how it is possible for the top freedivers to equalise head down with a mask beyond 100m.

There are other advanced techniques such as packing and training dives to shallow depths using nearly empty lungs all of which can help with compensation at depth, but these need to be taught by an experienced and qualified instructor.

any v low volume freediving mask is ok

spheras are good cos you dont have to put much air into them you can let them press in more than other masks but what matters most is a comfortable fit.