7 Tricks to Prevent Snorkel Mask From Fogging

Tricks to Prevent Snorkel Mask From Fogging

Gone are the days when people used traditional masks for swimming in the river. This is the digital era, and everything is becoming more advanced. Thus, if you feel uncomfortable with a traditional mask for diving, you can watch for the best full-face snorkel mask.

However, selecting a mask that fits your face is critical because it will prevent snorkel mask fogging. It’s not a big deal to get the stylish and reliable snorkel mask that could help you to complete your diving experience without fogging.
Being a diving professional exposes you to a variety of approaches. Some divers spend hours rinsing and soaking their masks. Some people put up with hurting eyes because they overfilled their masks with defogging. Some divers simply tolerate the fog.
You must be confused if the snorkel mask is too big or discomfort if it’s too small and tight. So, buying the best full-face snorkel mask is not easy because you may come across many high-quality products. But none of them is right for you.
There isn’t much helpful information available regarding the issue’s root cause. We’re going to look at what causes a fogging mask.

Factors Affecting the Snorkel Mask Fogging

The oil or dirt particles are a substrate for the vapor to adhere. When the mask is clean, the vapours trickle down and gather at the bottom of the mask rather than fogging it up. Additionally, minute flaws in the mask lens provide a surface for vapour to condense and fog the lens.
However, moisture on your face or under your mask may cause it to fog up. The moisture required for the mask to fog up is provided by a wet face or a mask that has not been dried.

How to choose the mask to minimize fogging?

So, there are a few things we can do, many of which are well-known but occasionally misunderstood, to stop mask fogging. The first step is cleaning the glass’s surface of the outgassing coating.
When you purchased your dive mask, the store or online salesperson probably tried to upsell you on an abrasive cleaner. They might have mentioned the value of cleaning it, perhaps with toothpaste, or perhaps you’ve read about it online.

• Material of the snorkel mask

It’s also crucial to consider the materials and features of each full-face snorkel mask. Most masks include built-in silicon skirting that gives added comfort to prevent snorkel mask fogging. The silicone skirting creates an airtight seal around the mask.

It’s also essential to examine the snorkel’s features. A dry-top snorkel prevents fogging. So, it will keep the mask’s interior dry. A wave guard will keep water out of the mask as well. Snorkeling without a wave guard or a dry snorkel is inconvenient since water will enter the mask and fill it, requiring removal and emptying throughout your snorkeling.
Thus, most full-face snorkel masks are constructed of a mix of plastics, some of which are more durable and heavy-duty than others. They will be more useful when diving. The weight of the snorkel mask will also play a role in determining how comfortable and portable the mask is.

• Size of the mask

If you wear a snorkel mask that is too big, fog will get in. It is possible to compensate by expanding one’s jaw. Because snorkel masks cover the entire face, choosing the proper size is recommended.
So, it would be best to have a tape measure or a piece of string to determine your facial size. After that, measure your brows to your chin. This will determine the length of your face, allowing you to select the appropriate size for the best fit.

If fog and water get inside your mask while wearing it, you should tighten the straps. If this does not work, you may want to consider purchasing a different size. A snorkel mask that is the proper size ensures maximum comfort when snorkeling.
However, most snorkel masks have adjustable straps, allowing you to customize the fit to your face. A snorkel mask has silicon skirting that helps with comfort by keeping fog from entering the mask.

How to Prevent Snorkel Mask Fogging?

• Comprehensive rubbing

Keep in mind that you are attempting to remove a silicone byproduct film that has attached itself to the glass. Not even a quick scrub will do. You must put a lot of effort into it and exert a lot of pressure. I once worked with an engineer who took the lenses out of his dive mask and polished them with a polishing wheel and jeweler’s rouge.
Even though his mask never once fogged—and I mean never—for most people, this may be a bit much. However, make an effort to clean up after yourself. It won’t do to use your finger for a minute lightly.

• Cleaning Material

We use defog because, no matter how carefully you scrub or wipe your mask lenses, some impurities may remain on the surface. There are two varieties of defogging materials.

Surfactants will lower the surface tension of the water droplets. This indicates that they are more likely to spread across the textured glass surface rather than forming tiny spherical fog droplets.
The hydrophobic coats resemble the leaf in our previous illustration.

The hydrophobic coating will help to smooth the glass’s rough surface and lessen the cohesive force that holds water to the surface. Larger droplets of the water will develop and roll away. Anyone who has ever used Rain-X, a commercial windshield product, has witnessed the application of hydrophobic coatings. this will definitely prevent snorkel mask fogging.

Snorkel Mask

Prevent Fogging

• Rinse off your mask
  Rinse your mask with cool or lukewarm water after each use. Use a fresh towel to dry it after it has been rinsed off. Also, remember to wash your mask with mild soap to prevent dirt or oils from accumulating on the lens. Once more, make sure to pat it dry with a fresh towel. Keep your mask dry before storing it. Additionally, drying your mask off after cleaning it will help it last longer.

Simple defogging solutions for anti fogging snorkel mask

You can try some Anti-fogging solutions to prevent snorkel mask fogging while swimming.

1. Toothpaste your mask

This method of cleaning your mask is more precise. You can actually use regular toothpaste to clean your lens instead of going out and buying a cleaning product. Just dab a bit of toothpaste on the lens and gently work it in. As the toothpaste is smeared, the lens will finally feel smooth to the touch.
When you get to this stage, rinse the toothpaste and let the mask air dry. Try breathing inside the lens after the mask has dried to determine whether the fogging persists. If that’s the case, carry on this process.

2. Shampoo your mask

The toothpaste approach is comparable to this procedure. Use a light shampoo or conditioner to remove dirt and other impurities from the lens. Wash the mask’s lens with fresh water after liberally using shampoo, then give it time to dry.

3. Burn your mask

If you are thinking about using this approach, there is a particular procedure you must apply. You might be able to apply this technique if your diving mask’s lens is composed of tempered glass rather than plastic.

Basically, the lens is squeezed into a mold during the construction of diving masks, and this procedure can leave a silicone residue on the inner surface of the lens. This silicone layer helps collect moisture, which causes the mask to get foggy. You can remove the silicone layer by running a lighter down the lens’s interior surface. Avoid melting the rubber skirt that makes up the mask’s seal.

4. Defogging spray

There are commercially available treatments to pre-treat your mask and stop it from fogging. These items typically take the shape of a gel or spray and contain ingredients that prevent snorkel mask fogging. They are frequently relatively affordable, and divers highly suggest them. These sprays prevent snorkel mask fogging.

Some Myths About Defogging

It’s totally normal to rinse your mask, but a brief rinse will do wonders. I frequently observe people over-rinsing their masks, effectively removing the defog from the mask. Remember that for a defogger to be effective, part of the soap or other surfactant must remain inside the mask. If you rinse the mask too much, the product will be removed, making the mask worthless.