What do a clown fish, a shipwreck, and an eagle ray all have in common? You see them through a scuba mask, your window to the underwater world. One of the most important pieces of diving gear, a mask must be equalized, defogged, and fit properly. In other words, there is more to scuba masks than meets the eye.
Scuba masks are different from other kinds of masks. Created specifically for scuba diving, they are made of high quality materials like tempered glass and silicon, materials tough enough to withstand the underwater environment. Snorkeling masks and other masks designed for surface water sports may be made of inferior materials, such as plastic lenses that can fog and scratch easily. Such weak materials could break during a dive. Although scuba masks may work well for snorkeling and other water sports, masks created for surface water sports generally do not work well for diving.