Frameless Gorilla Mask Black / Black
Synergy Mini Silver/Black Skirt
How to choose a dive mask
The right dive mask is the one that seals on your face. Hold it in place without the strap, breathe in gently through your nose, and a mask that fits stays put with no air leaking in. Brand and price come after that test. Most masks we stock cost between about R1,000 and R1,900, with simple models from about R450.
What changes from one mask to the next
- Face shape. Models sized for narrower faces, such as the Mares X-Vision Mid 2.0, Scubapro Spectra Mini and Cressi F1 Small, seal where a standard frame gaps at the cheeks.
- Volume. A low-volume mask sits closer to the eyes, so it needs less air to clear and less to equalise on the way down.
- Lenses. Single-lens masks give one unbroken view. Twin-lens masks are where most drop-in corrective lenses fit.
- Skirt colour. A black skirt cuts glare and side light, which photographers tend to prefer. A clear skirt lets in more light and feels less closed in.
Prescription lenses and first use
Short-sighted and long-sighted divers can have corrective lenses fitted instead of squinting at a computer. Our prescription masks are the Scubapro, Cressi, Mares and Tusa models whose matching lenses we sell. Every new mask also carries a thin silicone film from the factory that makes it fog until it's scrubbed off once. Masks bought from us can come back to the shop for that first prep, and a defog does the work on each dive after it. Cold Cape water makes fogging worse, so the prep counts for more there than at Sodwana.
Questions we get asked
How should a dive mask fit?
Place the mask on your face without the strap, breathe in gently through your nose and let go. If it stays put with no air leaking in, it seals. Then check that the frame doesn't press on the bridge of your nose or your forehead.
Can I get a dive mask with my prescription?
Yes. Many masks take drop-in corrective lenses made in fixed steps, and DAN puts the usual stock range at 0 to -8.00 and 0 to +4.00. Stronger prescriptions or marked astigmatism need custom bonded lenses or soft contact lenses.
Is a single-lens or twin-lens mask better?
Neither is better across the board. A single lens gives an unbroken view, while a twin lens is the design most corrective lenses fit. Pick the one that passes the fit test on your face.
Why does my new dive mask fog up?
New lenses carry a thin silicone film from manufacture, and condensation beads on it. Scrub it off once, with a gel toothpaste with no grit on plain glass lenses, then use a defog before every dive. We prep masks bought from us in the shop.
Which dive mask suits a small face?
Look for models sized for narrower faces, such as the Mares X-Vision Mid 2.0, Scubapro Spectra Mini or Cressi F1 Small. The strapless fit test still decides.