It’s an item of equipment that can make or break your photographic abilities underwater by limiting or creating your vision whilst underwater. I have been through many masks over the 16 years I have been diving, most during the 11 years as a Dive Instructor as they broke quicker or simply got lost. I have been shooting UW photos for 7 years now and have tried out a few masks in that time. ALl were used here in the Cayman Islands and so I had good clear tropical waters with lots of Sun. I have to say that one of my favourites I don’t have anymore and can’t buy anywhere locally was a freediving mask with a mirrored lense.
I think we all know that we want to have as little space in the mask as possible, less air = less equalising, less change in focus, and you can get your eye as close as possible to the viewfinder of the camera. So we want a Low Profile Low Volume Mask.
Also .. A black skirt is essential to keep the light out. If the light comes from behind you and in the sides of your mask then you may getglare which makes it hard to see down the viewfinder or even an LCD screen.
Of course go for the normal qualities of Comfort and Fit. Going with a small mask can make the nose area or forehead area painfull for some people, so when you try it on .. see if it feel tight or if any hard areas may squeeze your nose of forehead. I always use a Slapstrap for comfort as my strap will always fit and it works with my longer hair well.
Although I suggested the polarised mirrored lense of the Freediving mask earlier I think that was a personal thing. And I must say in the past few years the two masks that have stood out are my two current masks which I look after .. or cling onto no matter how broken they seem ! These two masks are the Cressi Sub Horizon and the Oceanic Shadow. What are your choices for favourite dive photo mask ?
just forgot about this one.. thanks for reminding us Andi!
