Snorkeling masks are a very important part of a snorkeler's equipment. They allow us to see all of the beauty beneath the waves. The snorkeling mask provides us with the air space which our eyes need in order to be able to focus in the underwater world. All masks are the same with respect to the basic parts needed for their construction. All of them have a lens which acts as our window to the underwater world. All of them have some sort of a strap which keeps the mask on our faces and they all have a mask skirt which creates the seal as well as the air space needed for all the components to work together. Sounds pretty simple doesn't it?

To the novice this would seem to be enough knowledge but it merely scratches the surface of what avid and seasoned snorkeler's have learned about the different materials of which masks are made. Not to mention different features that may or may not enhance their snorkeling experience.

Back in the day, most snorkeling and scuba diving masks were made of black rubber with regard to the mask skirt. It was an inexpensive enough material but it did have a couple of drawbacks to it, one of which was dry rot. The rubber had a tendancy to lose its elasticity as it aged developing cracks and tears in the mask skirt which made the mask useless in a relatively short period of time. The second drawback was that it limited the amount of light to the snorkeler by creating a sort of a tunnel vision. This did not bode well for those who were a bit on the claustrophobic side. (The picture is Aqualungs Pacifica. Though made of silicone, it is the same design of the days when Aqualung made the mask of rubber.)

Manufacturers, in an effort to make snorkeling enjoyable to as many people as possible, started using silicone for their mask skirts. Early silicone was cloudy but still allowed more light to penetrate than the black rubber material. Silicone was also a more expensive material but its resistance to dry rot along with the additional light it afforded appealed quite well to the snorkeling world. Through the years silicone masks became more the norm rather than the exception. Further developments brought forth silicone that lost it's cloudy appearance which allowed even more light. Snorkelers saw the light and that was good.

In an effort to keep costs down some manufacturers have developed other materials for use in the mask skirts. These are usually a polyvinyl or PVC material. They look as good as the silicone masks but their main drawback is that the PVC has a tendency to become less flexible in cooler waters. This inflexibility invariably ends up affecting the masks ability to fit the face.

Masks that are suitable for scuba divers are also suitable for use by snorkelers. The same can not be said of masks that are touted as snorkeling masks. In order for a mask to be acceptable for scuba and snorkeling, the lenses need to be made of tempered glass. The word tempered will be found printed directly on the lens itself. Tempered glass is used because it it is better suited for changes in pressure which occur when a scuba diver descends and ascends. Tempered glass has a better resistance to scratches than plastic lenses.

The key to selecting a mask making sure that the mask fits your face. Click on our video below to see how to fit a mask to your face.

Those people that require vision correction in the form of glasses will be pleased to know that manufacturers also offer masks that can accomodate diopter lenses for 2 lens masks and there are companies that can chemically bond prescription lenses to the inside of the existing lenses of virtually any mask.

Contact wearers should know that it is perfectly acceptable to wear your contacts while using a snorkeling mask. Water does magnify things by 25% making objects appear larger and closer than they really are. Those with minor vision corrections may not need the enhancements of corrective lenses as the water itself may compensate.

The past few years have brought about a wider selection of ways to keep the mask on the face. For the most part masks use a silicone or rubber strap that goes through buckle system. Purchasing an additional replacement strap is always a good idea. Some mask straps are unique to the mask which is also another good reason to purchase spare straps. Other options may include straps made of neoprene. These are great for those with longer hair as they reduce the chance for hair entanglement. There are also neoprene covers that can be added to exisiting rubber and silicone straps. A suggestion for those people that have longer hair; if you can braid it, then do so. This will greatly reduce the risk of having hair getting tangled in the mask strap.

Another feature that is available to the snorkeler is a purge valve. This is a one way valve that is used to clear water from the mask should any get in. Purge valves may be found as part of the mask lens itself as is the case in many older single lens masks. Most manufacturers that offer masks with purge valve usually incorporate them in the the base of the nose pocket itself. Though a nice feature overall, the purge valve at the base of the nose pocket can be uncomfortable for those of us whose nose tip may have a downward hook to it.

One thing is certain where masks are concerned. They are ever changing. This article may also change as new innovations, designs and options become available. Check back once in awhile to see what's new.