Scuba diving is a fun and adventurous hobby for lovers of the ocean and all the natural wonders it has to offer.
However, without the right mask, your scuba diving adventure can quickly turn into a blurry, foggy disappointment.
Luckily, we’ve compiled a list of the best scuba masks available on the market to help you dive in style and high definition.
With the help of our product reviews, buyers guide, and FAQ section, you’ll experience the ocean as you’ve never seen it before!
5 Best Scuba Masks for Divers Reviews
BEST OVERALL
Pros
- Uses high-seal silicone material
- Durable and slimline Integrated Dual Frame
- Low-volume profile
- Durable buckle placement
- Includes plastic storage case
- Available in black or clear designs
Cressi is a manufacturer of a great many highly recommended scuba masks, amongst other diving equipment, but one of its best-loved products is the Big Eyes Evolution Scuba Mask.
This scuba mask incorporates several innovative design elements that help it to stand out amongst the competition.
Its use of high-seal silicone, for example, provides an effective seal against water as well as superior comfort.
The construction of this mask’s frame is also both highly durable and slimline thanks to Cressi’s patented elastomer injection method and IDF (Integrated Dual Frame) system, which joins two rigid frames together, which not only makes the frame thinner but also strengthens the structure.
The biggest selling point of the Big Eyes Evolution mask is its teardrop lenses. Their shape is patented by Cressi and designed to improve downward visibility through their inclination.
Moreover, the positioning of the lenses close to the eyes creates a low-volume profile which helps to make the mask wearer more hydrodynamic in the water. It also reduces the amount of air needed to get rid of excess water from inside the mask.
Additionally, the buckles are mounted onto a rigid element rather than on the skirt of the mask so that breakages are less likely to occur during adjustment. The adjustable silicone strap itself is both flexible and comfortable
Included with the purchase of this mask is a practical, hard plastic case to ensure your mask remains fully protected when not in use.
This mask is available in clear of black coloring with a multitude of additional colored accents or additional features such as mirrored lenses to suit each individual diver.
OUR FAVORITE
Pros
- Safety tempered double glass lenses
- Suitable for diving up to 98 feet
- 180° panoramic view
- Comfortable, wide silicone skirt
- Adjustable head strap
- Multiple color options
We were so impressed by COPOZZ’s scuba mask because of the way it combines comfort, durability, and high visibility in a classic design.
This mask’s safety tempered glass double lenses are shatter-proof, scratch-resistant, and resistant to high water pressure, so you can be sure that they will withstand deep dives up to 98 feet and accidental impacts.
Not only are these lenses highly durable, but they also provide superior visibility underwater with a 180° panoramic view.
This mask is also designed to comfortably fit a variety of different face shapes and sizes. The wide silicone skirt fits tightly, yet comfortably to the face while the adjustable head strap, attached to the skirt of the mask for better adjustability, helps the mask to remain secure on just about any head size.
The COPOZZ Scuba Mask is available in a wide variety of colors, including standard black and clear as well as pink, blue, red, and more!
BEST VALUE
- Features universal GoPro mount
- Safety tempered lenses
- Comfortable, watertight silicone skirt
- Carry bag included
- Thumbscrew included for GoPro attachment
- Low-volume design available
- Multiple color options
Pros
If you want to immortalize all of your beautiful underwater sightings on film while you dive, the Frameless Dive Mask WITH GoPro Mount from Octomask is the mask for you!
This mask features a GoPro mount at the top of the frame which is compatible with all GoPro models. With this feature, you can record your surroundings during your dives to look back on later.
Octomask won’t just help you capture great footage of your dives - you’ll also have an incredible (and safe) in-person view through the safety tempered lenses.
The silicone skirt is comfortable to wear and provides a highly effective waterproof seal.
Along with this mask, you will receive a carry bag for easy transportation and an aluminum thumbscrew for attaching your GoPro to the mask.
Octomask has also manufactured a low-volume model of this mask for divers who prioritize hydrodynamics and easier water purging on their excursions.
Take your pick of black or clear/blue for the frameless designs, or settle on the classic, low-volume black option.
BEST SINGLE LENS FOR SUPERIOR VIEW
- Durable, impact-resistant plastic frame
- Soft silicone skirt
- Uses Optical MultiCoat Technology
- Reduces UV glare
- HD visibility coating
- Anti-fog coating
- Adjustable strap
Pros
Next up on our list is SeaDive’s Oceanways Superview-HD Scuba Mask.
This mask has been designed to provide the most comfortable fit possible whilst enhancing your visual underwater experience.
The rigid, teardrop frame is made of highly durable, impact-resistant plastic, and positions the single lens in a way that ensures a particularly wide field of vision, so you’ll never miss a thing due to obstructed peripheral vision.
Meanwhile, the soft, silicone skirt enhances the comfort of this mask for extensive, painless wear.
The lens itself, however, is what really sets this mask apart from the competition. Using Optical MultiCoat Technology, the lens minimizes UV glare and reduces lightwave length to 400-600 nanometers, while the HD coating improves visibility.
SeaDive has even included a layer of Anti-Fog coating on the inside of the lens to minimize fogging.
The adjustable strap ensures that this mask will fit the majority of medium to large face sizes and shapes without issue.
- Single-lens panoramic view
- Schott Superwite UltraClear lens reduces distortion
- Gummi Bear Ultra Soft reinforced silicone skirt
- Easily adjustable swivel buckles
- Available in black or black and red
Pros
Atomic’s Venom Frameless Mask has received a lot of attention in the scuba diving community.
Like the Oceanways Superview-HD, the Venom has a single-lens design that enables an ultra-wide panoramic view.
In addition to this, the Venom mask reinforces its Gummi Bear UltraSoft silicone skirt with a more rigid skirt, striking the ideal balance between facial comfort and effective watertight sealing.
The swivel buckles featured on this mask are very simple to adjust, making it easier than ever to achieve the perfect fit.
This mask features Atomic’s original Schott Superwite UltraClear lens, which has been designed to eliminate optical distortions, direct 96% of available light to the eyes, and enables clear multi-directional vision.
The Atomic Venom is available in plain black, or black with red accents for a more eye-catching style.
Best Scuba Mask Buying Guide
For such a conceptually straightforward product, finding the perfect scuba mask can be deceptively tricky.
Luckily for you, we’ve constructed this buyers guide to help you consider all of the most important factors in scuba mask design and construction.
Frame
The frame of your scuba mask is likely to have a significant impact on your diving, and it’s probably the first thing you need to consider when choosing a mask.
For maximum durability, you should choose a frame made of some form of impact-resistant plastic as this will ensure product longevity.
Scuba masks come in a variety of different frame shapes. For example, they can be framed or frameless, high-volume, or low-volume.
Frameless scuba masks are generally favored by serious divers and photographers because of the increased field of vision that they provide. These masks also tend to be more lightweight, and more adjustable due to their increased flexibility.
The lower volume typical of frameless scuba masks may also impact your movement through the water, making you more hydrodynamic. The smaller space inside the mask also means you’ll have to put less effort into purging any unwanted water from the mask.
However, there are also plenty of reasons to opt for a framed scuba mask. The increased rigidity of the structure may increase product durability and do a better job of keeping water from entering the mask.
Ultimately, this choice is completely up to you and should be guided by what your personal priorities are in a successful scuba diving trip.
Skirt
The skirt is a crucially important feature in a scuba mask since it provides the essential watertight seal around your face.
All of the masks featured on our list have silicone skirts. Silicone is widely considered the best material for scuba mask skirts because of its ability to provide a highly effective seal and its softness.
A silicone skirt seal will feel soft against your face, minimizing the potential for discomfort, especially around the nose, where rubbing is most likely to occur.
At the same time, the silicone material will adhere closely to your facial contours, preventing water from entering the mask.
If you anticipate your mask being subjected to some wear and tear, it might be worth considering a scuba mask that features a reinforced skirt. This type of skirt will feature the standard, soft silicone construction, with the addition of a reinforced, more rigid skirt layer to improve durability.
Lenses
The lense (or lens) of a scuba mask will dictate the quality of vision you get underwater, so it’s important to consider this feature carefully.
Depending on whether you choose a framed or frameless scuba mask, you will either have one or two lenses.
As a rule, a single lens is likely to provide a wider field of vision and greater overall visibility.
However, there are other factors besides the number of lenses that can help to improve your visibility underwater.
One such factor is the use of optical technologies. A great example of this kind of technology is SeaDive’s Oceanways Superview-HD scuba mask, which uses Optical MultiCoat Technology to enhance the optical properties of its lenses through anti-fog, UV-resistant and HD vision lens coatings.
Other specialized lenses may reduce visual distortion, such as the Schott Superwite UltraClear lens featured on Atomic’s Venom Frameless Mask.
Whatever visual experience you’re hoping to get out of scuba diving, there’s a mask on our list to help you achieve it.
Fit
An ill-fitting scuba mask is a surefire way to ruin your scuba diving experience. From leakages to discomfort, a whole host of problems can be avoided by purchasing a scuba mask that fits properly.
There are a couple of features to bear in mind if you want to find a perfectly fitted scuba mask.
The first, as we’ve already mentioned, is the skirt (see above). An effective skirt seal will help the mask to fit tightly and comfortably to the contours of your face, preventing leaks and uncomfortable facial pressure.
The second feature which is crucial in ensuring a good fit is the head strap. An adjustable head strap will allow you to tailor the fit of your mask to the size of your head to make it as comfortable and watertight as possible.
Scuba mask head straps are typically adjusted with buckles, which can either be attached to the rigid element of the mask frame or the skirt.
There are advantages and disadvantages to both methods of strap attachment.
Attaching the head strap to the rigid element of the frame helps to improve the mask’s overall durability since the frame is typically a more durable and structurally sound component of the mask than the skirt.
However, by attaching the buckles to the skirt of the mask, greater adjustability is achieved. This is because the skirt is in closer proximity to the face and is more flexible. The downside to this method is that the skirt is more likely to tear during adjustment.
Safety Features
Scuba diving can be an incredibly fun and exhilarating experience, but it’s also important to remember that diving comes with its own set of potential risks. Having the right mask can help to minimize some of these risks.
When diving at significant depths, the pressure exerted by the water onto yourself and your diving equipment increases.
If more pressure is exerted than your mask can withstand, unpleasant consequences such as ‘mask squeeze’ (where water pressure compresses your mask to your face, resulting in burst blood vessels in the eyes) may occur.
Therefore, it’s important to have a scuba mask that can withstand the increased pressure of deeper dives.
The use of safety tempered or double-layered glass in scuba mask lenses helps to make the lenses more resistant to external water pressure.
If you plan on diving ‘deep’ (further than 60 feet), please ensure that you purchase a mask with safety tempered or multi-layered glass for protection from water pressure.
Color
Color may seem like a trivial thing to be worrying about, especially following on from the previous point, but we promise it’s not!
The color of your scuba mask actually has the potential to impact your diving experience more than you might think.
The two primary color options for scuba masks are black and clear. Each color has its advantages when it comes to diving.
Black scuba masks help to reduce unwanted light and glare which can interfere with visibility underwater. For this reason, black masks are often favored by underwater photographers.
However, a clear mask may expand a diver’s field of vision for a more panoramic view.
In addition to the black and clear color options that dominate the scuba diving market, it is also possible to purchase scuba masks in a wide range of more exciting colors (or, at least, colored accents). Whether you’re a fan of pink, red, or blue, you can find various fun and vibrant colors on scuba masks to suit your personal style.
Additional Features
Finally, there are a few useful additional features to look for in scuba masks to enhance your purchase.
If you’re a photographer or videographer, or even if you just want to put that GoPro you got for the holidays to good use, you might want to consider a scuba mask with a built-in GoPro mount. This will allow you to keep your hands free and fully immerse yourself in the experience whilst capturing everything you see on film.
If you do opt for a GoPro mounted mask, the inclusion of camera mounting hardware (usually just a single thumbscrew) can save you the trouble of making a separate purchase (see Octomask’s GoPro mounted model).
A carry case or bag is another very useful feature if you want to extend the longevity of your mask by keeping it protected from impact damage or wear when not in use.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between scuba and snorkel masks?
This is a common question amongst diving beginners because scuba and snorkel masks often look very similar.
However, the simple answer to this question is that scuba masks are built to withstand increased pressure since scuba diving involves diving to deeper depths than snorkeling.
The quality of the glass used in snorkeling lenses tends to be lower, as does the quality of the materials used to make the frame and skirt.