The Essential Guide: How to Defog a New freediving Mask
Congratulations on your new diving mask! Whether you're a seasoned diver or just getting started, a foggy mask can put a damper on your underwater experience. Luckily, there are several easy and effective methods to prevent fogging and keep your vision clear during your dives. In this article, we'll explore some tried-and-true techniques for defogging your new diving mask.
Understanding the Problem:
Before we delve into solutions, it's essential to understand why diving masks fog up in the first place. The primary culprit is a thin film of residue that formed on the inside of the mask's lens due to the manufacturing process. When the temperature of the lens changes (e.g., as you enter the water), this film can cause condensation, resulting in fogging.
Pre-Dive Preparation:
Preventing fogging starts before you even hit the water. Here's what you can do:
1. Pre-Treatment: Many divers swear by pre-treating their new masks with a defogging solution or using baby shampoo. Commercial defogging products are readily available at dive shops and online retailers. Apply a small amount to the inside of the mask lens, rub it around to ensure even coverage, and then rinse it off thoroughly. This creates a hydrophilic layer that helps prevent fogging. Baby shampoo is gentle on the eyes and also leaves behind a thin film that helps prevent fogging. Sea drops is a popular choice commonly used by many BUY YOURS HERE
the downside of this is that the original factory coating is still there so if you don’t have your defogging soloution on hand or leave it at home you are out of luck.
2. Toothpaste Method: Another popular pre-treatment method involves using non-gel toothpaste. Apply a pea-sized amount to the inside of the dry mask lens, rub it around the inside thoroughly for a few minutes, and then rinse it off. the fine abrasiveness of the toothpaste will remove the factory layer for good. you may notice after the first round sometimes you might miss a dot or strip. simply repeat until you are all clear. Once completed you can use any defogging solution or now you can simply use your own spit to defog.
3. Burning + Toothpaste: “You want me to burn my mask?!?!” it sounds crazy but this is another common practice to remove the factory coating of the mask lens using some light heat. The key is to not overheat your mask as this can compromise the seals and glass and do not to use this method if you have a tinted lens as this will melt the tint off .
Take a lighter (do not use a jet lighter as this is too intense) and lightly go around the glass inside your mask, it will only take a few seconds and you will see a light charred layer begin to appear, stop and let it cool for a minute so it is safe to touch. Then simply repeat the process of the “toothpaste method” to remove the charred residue. i find this method great for quickly cleaning a new mask.
Post-Dive Care:
Proper post-dive care can help extend the life of your mask and keep it fog-free for future dives. After each dive, rinse your mask thoroughly with fresh water to remove any salt or debris. Store it in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.
Conclusion:
A foggy diving mask doesn't have to ruin your underwater adventures. By taking a few simple steps before, during, and after your dives, you can keep your mask clear and enjoy crystal-clear visibility beneath the waves. Experiment with different methods to find what works best for you, and dive on with confidence!
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