By Sarah on Wednesday, August 1, 2001 - 1:57 pm: |
I need some advise, I had all sorts of problems with my mask this last trip. I bought a new one on GC and as soon as I got into the water, it leaked! I have a very small face and so need a small fitting mask. Have tried children's size, too small.. my partner and I spent much time over buying my new mask and I also had assistance in the dive shop.. the mask felt really comfortable, I was very surprised to find that it leaked.. I'm a big smiley person and have been told that that's part of my problem.. Any advise would be much appreciated. We're off to Bonaire in December and I really want to get something sorted before we leave. Thanks
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By Bob Davison on Wednesday, August 1, 2001 - 2:02 pm: |
Sarah,
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By Sarah on Wednesday, August 1, 2001 - 2:14 pm: |
Bob, that's really useful information, thank you so much..
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By Anonymous on Wednesday, August 1, 2001 - 2:17 pm: |
pratice mask clearing techniques...some of just have faces that can not be fit properly...even with the carib inn's help...
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By Sarah on Wednesday, August 1, 2001 - 2:25 pm: |
I've just had a quick peep at my mask and snorkel (I bought them as a set), the make is actually Mares.. I guess there are different sizes though??? Anony, thanks for your input too.. I don't have a problem with clearing, just didn't like the way I had to do it constantly due to leaking...
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By Bob Davison on Wednesday, August 1, 2001 - 2:43 pm: |
>> at my mask and snorkel (I bought them as a set), the make is actually Mares.. <<
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By Bob Davison on Wednesday, August 1, 2001 - 2:44 pm: |
Sarah,
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By Sarah on Wednesday, August 1, 2001 - 2:58 pm: |
Bob, a snorkel is a tube housing air intake..
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By Josie on Wednesday, August 1, 2001 - 4:29 pm: |
Sarah, I also have a problem, and I have a small face too, but it really does help when I concentrate on not grinning and smiling. Which is SO hard. There's so much to smile at. However, not smiling does make a big difference. Bummer!!!
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By Sarah on Wednesday, August 1, 2001 - 4:47 pm: |
Josie, how right you are.. Something that Hugh did whilst on holiday in the Caymans, made me burst out laughing in the water.. my mask flooded, and I tried desperately to keep a straight face thereafter.. but with great difficulty..
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By Leigh Ann on Wednesday, August 1, 2001 - 5:34 pm: |
I have trouble with my mask leaking because I breathe out my nose. Imagine that! No matter how hard I try not to, I still end up doing it and in comes the water.
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By Peggy Bowen on Wednesday, August 1, 2001 - 6:08 pm: |
This months issue of Scuba Diving has a bunch of smaller masks. And ALWAYS try out the mask with your snorkle in your mouth (or Regulator).
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By Brian J. Walsh on Wednesday, August 1, 2001 - 6:21 pm: |
One thing I have noticed is that I need to avoid sunscreen in my mask fit area. I would suspect any face cream etc. could cause a problem. I had to reclean the mask with the toothpaste as when it was new and that fixed the problem.
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By Sarah on Wednesday, August 1, 2001 - 7:39 pm: |
I really appreciate all the input on this subject.. that's one of the things I like so much about BonaireTalk.. people are so helpful.. thank you all..
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By Barry Gassert on Wednesday, August 1, 2001 - 10:25 pm: |
Sarah, who said you could have fun under water...this is a serious sport - no smiling or laughing allowed......
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By Josie on Wednesday, August 1, 2001 - 10:31 pm: |
I've thought about that Barry, but I have prescription lenses in my mask and hate to have to incur that expense again. However, as I'm getting older (it's rough when you get past 21!), my eyes are changing so maybe in five years or so I'll need another one...
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By Barry Gassert on Wednesday, August 1, 2001 - 10:38 pm: |
Josie, have you considered contacts? I know many many people who dive with contacts...no problems with pressure, etc....
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By Cecil Berry on Thursday, August 2, 2001 - 8:49 am: |
I guess I'm very lucky, never had a problem with a mask leaking. I dove for years with contacts, they do work well, the best choice though is to get the lasik surgery and lose the glasses and contacts altogether.
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By Josie on Thursday, August 2, 2001 - 12:50 pm: |
Barry, I'd love to have contacts, but my doctor says they're not an option. Currently I have bifocals and I also have an astigmatism. However, I keep thinking of the newest Lasik surgery!
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By Kay Powers on Thursday, August 2, 2001 - 2:19 pm: |
Hi Josie....
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By Josie on Thursday, August 2, 2001 - 4:02 pm: |
I've made a commitment to myself to look into it as soon as I get back from Bonaire. Maybe the next trip I can do glasses-free!
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By Cecil Berry on Thursday, August 2, 2001 - 5:01 pm: |
You'll still need reading glasses afterwards, it can fix nearsightness and astigmatism but it can't make you any younger.
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By Josie on Thursday, August 2, 2001 - 5:43 pm: |
Damn.... I was hoping for the younger, too!!
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By Barry Gassert on Thursday, August 2, 2001 - 9:03 pm: |
Well, good luck with whatever you decide. I'm fortunate - only need the reading glasses, but boy do I need them
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By Linnea Wimberly on Thursday, August 2, 2001 - 10:04 pm: |
I'm one of the folks with a narrow face and some big wrinkles. I've found that masks with double seals work the best. I am near-sighted so that limits me to masks that can have corrective inserts or I have to send it off to get lenses glued into the mask face plate(s).
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By Barry Gassert on Thursday, August 2, 2001 - 10:47 pm: |
Linnea.....excellent point about the strap. I forgot about that.
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By Julie on Friday, August 3, 2001 - 10:37 pm: |
Leigh Ann - I second on the purge mask. I found myself breathing out my nose and had no trouble. I also find it more comforting as I'm a beginner diver and I get a little anxious when I only breathe through my mouth - even on dry land.
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By Sarah on Saturday, August 4, 2001 - 8:03 pm: |
Barry, thanks for the info on the purge masks.. I am going to try a few out before we leave for Bonaire. By the way, is snorkeling a serious sport too??? I was only snorkeling when I experienced the flooding. Though the smiling bit did take place at about 5 feet!!!! I guess that's why it was worse than at the surface????
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By Barry Gassert on Sunday, August 5, 2001 - 6:30 am: |
Sarah...I'm sure if you smile at the dinner table, your smile lines will be there...it's not the depth, but the lines.
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By Cynde Lee on Saturday, August 11, 2001 - 3:52 pm: |
Sarah, are you trying the masks on in the store before you take it to the water? If you put the mask on your face without the straps and inhale very lightly, it should stay on. If it falls off, it isn't a good fit. NOTE: NO SMILING WITH THIS TEST unless you see a nice fish in the store! I assume you have been doing this but thought I would ask. Linnea is correct in that if it is too tight, it may also leak if it rides up your face. I bought a new one this year and had issues until I got the strap adjustment just perfect. Had to take it in the pool a couple of times to get the thing worked out right. Don't know why I switched as my old one never gave me problems...guess I didn't like the color! Ha! Good luck, Mares is a good company.
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By Sarah on Saturday, August 11, 2001 - 4:18 pm: |
Cynde, thanks for your input on this I thought I was doing all the right things when buying the mask, I guess there was more to it!! I have recently printed off a very useful info sheet on Mask Fitting given to me by another Bonaire Talker.. I'm going to take their advice and hope for the best.. the mask I bought was a Mares mask, but obviously not the right one! I'm going to try the mask in the local dive shop pool before I buy.. seems like a good idea..
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By Cynde Lee on Saturday, August 11, 2001 - 9:29 pm: |
Good luck Sarah, and keep trying! I am sure your shop is like most, in that you can return the mask if it has just been in the pool. The "put the mask on and inhale lightly" should be done out of the water. While in the shop I usually just look, give it the test, put it back, look some more. I got the new "Big Eyes" by CrestSub. It has a greater visual range and a softer skirt which i think conforms to the face a bit better. The pool is a good place to fiddle around with the straps, tightness, etc. When are you going to Bonaire?
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By Sarah on Sunday, August 12, 2001 - 6:04 am: |
Hi there Cynde, we're off to Bonaire December 7 - 21st. We're all booked up, and I'm hoping I'll be arriving with a "super" mask!!!!....
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