OMER Alien vs. Bandit

[Silentspear]

I'm just getting into spearfishing. I'm 15, 5'6 and 120 lbs. (I know, I'm skinny)

I wanted to know which Mask I should get and if I should get a special type of snorkel.

I will be using it for pole spearing in San Diego for pretty small fish. Mainly along reef places and shallow channels. I have enough money for either, but which would be better to suit me?

Omer

Omer

If possible, it would be nice to know what snorkel I should get too.

 

[Captain J]

I use a Bandit and its great, as long as it fits/comfortable and its low volume you don't really need to worry about the name/brand etc.

 

[salibandy]

Tell me something, how will telling us your body size enable us to tell you what mask will fit you? Everybody has a different face shape.

If you can, visit a local dive shop and try on the masks. Like Captain J said, as long as it's low volume and seals well, brand doesn't matter.

 

[Jon]

Tell me something, how will telling us your body size enable us to tell you what mask will fit you?

Ah, give the guy a break- he said he's only 15. After reading through all of the threads on here, were weight does make a difference in the gear you buy (like wetsuits and fins) I'm sure he didn't know.

BTW: When I was 15', I was 5'10" and 120 pounds- and those days are LONG gone!rofl

I've owned both masks and they have similar internal volumes- the same if I remember correctly. The Bandit is also identical to the OMER Abyss/ cressi super Occhio, with the excpetion of the frame being 1cm wider.

Since I have a wide face to begin with, the Bandit ended up fitting much nicer than the Abyss that I owned. Having said that, the Alien was wider yet and much more comfortable to wear for spearing and using bi-fins. The Bandit worked better with my monofins because it didn't slip off my face when I was swimming at top speed. :head

I had issues with all of them when it came to fogging, but that goes under another thread. :rcard

It's always best to go into a diveshop on do the sniff test, but most divestores don't seem to carry freediving gear so that makes it tough to do. Still, by going a local diveshop you might be able to detrmine what type of face you have.

Hope that helps,

Jon

 

[Mr. X]

All the masks I have tried have provided a decent seal - the wonders of soft silicone/silicon rubber(?). I have an Omer Alien it fits fine. I've been using it for around 1-2 years, one time (only) I put it on too tight & the hard frame pushed against my forehead uncomfortably -- releasing the strap fixed it. Fogged up a lot at first but no more (the old tricks about white tooth paste/lighter flame only made things worse). I also have a Seasub Combat (X-pro?) -- which is just as good (more like the Bandit/Superocchio shaped lenses) but made in Italy (rather than Taiwan) and comes with a quality plastic mask box . Cressi Matrix was also good. Cressi Lince2 fit fine but too small really for my face.

Some of the new masks look interesting (see other threads comparing new occhio, Beuchat & Technisub).

Re. snorkels, the Omer Zooms are much loved - never read a bad word but have heard much praise. There come in black, camo (brown/green/blue options), clear & flexible. I fish around rocks, with a float line & find using a flexible snorkel handy/comfortable with snags - I use a flexible Beuchat Activa Tubair (half the price of the Omer Zoom in the UK) & painted it camo myself. It occasionally gets a small amount of water trapped in the J-bend which rattle annoyingly, otherwise very good. I also have a camo Seacsub Combat snorkel but, although flexible it is stiffer & has a silly black tip (rather than safety orange) - haven't really used it, it's my spare.

 

[salibandy]

Ah, give the guy a break- he said he's only 15.

Sorry... I didn't mean it that way.

No offence Silentspear.

Personally I have the Alien, and I loveee it. I have a small face, and it seals well.

 

[DivingDane]

I'm with Salibandy on this one, OMER Alien over Bandit, better field of vision is the only advantage but the fit is generally very good on 90% of the population, dont worry silenthunter i'm a skinny bugger aswell.

Personally i'd go a Black Alien mask with an OMER Zoom Pro Clear snorkel, very comfortable snorkle with no purges and is flexible when hunting in caves or what not, i like the clear because it doesnt show up as much in the water (particularly when hiding behind a rock waiting for snapper) but probably doesnt make a difference, as long as it is the Pro (soft) then you are laughing.

other option is the Cressi Corsica snorkel (very nice) and the Cressi Occhioplus mask (a little strange looking but very low volume and good visibility)

just my thoughts

DD

 

[Silentspear]

roflNone taken from anyone. I really don't get offended by much. And I was just including all that stuff just in case it had anything to do with it. I think I'm gonna go with the Alien. I want the more comfortable one, and to me, the 'holes where you look through' seem to look a lot less aggressive than the bandit.

Thanks for all the info guys!!! You guys are pretty cool...

Should I just get a black one? The mask and the snorkel...

 

[Smartpart]

I have an Alien. Its great. When I first wear it, it doesn't fog at all. But when I take it off again put it on again, sometimes it trys to fog.

 

[Newbie_spearo]

Yeh just get black and black, thats what I've got and it's great! If you have enough money get the camo blue with mirrored lense, I have used a clear lense and a mirrored lense and I believe there's a difference as to how close you can get to the fish. I should probably use my clear lense more though coz it will refine my hunting technique.

 

[Silentspear]

I guess I'm just gonna get the black alien and the black pro zoom. Thanks for everything guys!

 

[DivingDane]

No worries, thats why we are all here, to get information and help each other out! the Black on Black with Zoom Pro is a good choise will keep you happy for a LONG time, just make sure you prep the lenses before your first dive or all you'll see is fog!

some people say the tooth paste doesnt work but it worked fine with mine, another choise is from the accessory company McNett Sea Buff and then before each dive just make sure you either use spitt or Mcnett Sea gold or something similar to prevent the lenses from fogging and you'll be laughing.

i feel sorry for the fish hahaha.

DD

 

[salibandy]

Coincidentally, DD, I wear my Alien with a Corsica. I love it to bits.

 

[DivingDane]

hahaha great minds think alike, Mono, Mask (Alian and sphera), Snorkel (also use a corsica when not using the Zoom).

next thing ya know we'll be owning the same wetsuits! Scary

DD

 

[Silentspear]

Hey guys, I really can't find any good dive shops in San Diego that carry the Alien.... You guys know any?

 

[Newbie_spearo]

Nope but check out jimdoe2you's store, or just send him a pm, he'll probably get it to your door for around the same price as it would cost to buy it from an existing store. The Spearfishing Store

 

[Silentspear]

I just might get it from there. The only thing is, I want to go try it on... And if I don't like it I might want to return it...

 

[Newbie_spearo]

Yeh that's the only problem with buying online. I had trouble finding a mask that didn't hurt my nose but the alien is comfy as, Also it turned out my strap was sitting too high and that's what caused a lot of my pain. The skirt is very soft so you shouldn't have a problem with it. I took a chance and it worked out great.

 

[tuffstuff]

My brother just bought the alien mimetic/zoom snorkel combo and it is really nice and the flexible snorkel helps when you get your head stuck in a rock...

 

[Silentspear]

I went to a dive shop, they had the Bandit but no Alien. I ended up getting the Cressi Sirena. I got the Black Zoom Pro too. Total : 65$