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Diving in Kota Kimbalu
Kota Kimbalu is located in Southeast Asia, next to Mountain Kinabalu, the tallest mountain in the region. This area’s water is crystal clear and offers a beautiful environment not only for divers but for those who enjoy sea related activities in...
Football 101 – A Girl’s Guide To Football – Why The Game Matters
Can I tell you how tired I am of single women complaining about how hard it is to meet a decent man? The problem is not a dearth of quality men, in fact I know quite a few single gems, but rather where the ladies are looking. You aren’t going to...
Making Careful Sports Betting Decisions
There are some many online sportsbooks out there that its hard as a recreational bettor to make a decision where you can bet in the knowledge that you won't be come another person ripped off by a rogue sportsbook. The fact is that there are less...
Skiing Exercises for Recreational Skiers
If you exercise often, you'll begin to build your strength and enhance your endurance in the muscle groups used in downhill skiing. You'll be preparing yourself for the rigors of skiing in the expert zones where both staying power and explosive...
The Internet Is Responsible For The Resurgence Of Sports Cards And Collectibles
In recent years there have been discussions among collectors suggesting that the internet may actually be hurting the sports cards and collectibles hobby. They point to decreased card show attendance and the struggles of brick and mortar stores as...
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How do I choose a scuba and snorkeling mask?
Your basic scuba masks consist of a silicon seal that acts as a suction on your face preventing water from entering.
What are the MOST IMPORTANT things look for in buying a scuba mask or snorkeling mask?
The mask is a long term investment. With the right maintenance and care, it can last a long time.
Quality
We are not talking about cheap mask that you buy for $10.00 that will continually leak on you. A good quality mask will run anywhere from $40.00 to $150.00 depending if there are any special features or not. We will talk more about the special features later in this article.
However, your basic mask MUST cover the following.
When you buy a mask there are several extremely important features to look at. The first feature is the seal to you face. Most masks have a good quality silicon rubber seal. The mask should fit snuggly on your face. A good test to test fit is to hold the mask up to your face and suck in the air through your nose. This will remove the air in the mask creating suction to your face. Hold your breath and do not let any air back into the mask through your nose. While holding you breathe, try to pull the mask off of your face. The mask should pop off sounding off a popping noise. This tells you that there is a good seal. If the mask falls off very easily, the mask is probably slightly to large for you. The last thing you want while diving or snorkeling is a leaky mask.
The second feature that you should look at is the accessibility to your nose. While the mask is on, try to pinch your nose. By pinching
your nose we mean that both your nostrils can be closed. This is essential if you are scuba diving as you need to pinch your nose to equalize the air pressure as you are descending deep into the waters.
If you have difficulties pinching your nose or can not even reach your nose at all, that mask will not work for you.
Another thing to look for but may not be as important is the visibility. You should have adequate peripheral vision and not tunnel vision with the mask. A good method of checking your peripheral vision is the following:
With your mask on, point your arm straight out in front of you with the palm of your hands together as if you’re about to diving into a swimming pool. At this point you should see your hands.
Next, while looking straight ahead, slowly open your hands and arms apart moving them away from each other. Keep going until you no longer see the hands and arms. That angle in which you can no longer see your arms is the angle of peripheral vision.
A good range is between 100 degrees and up. Normally your peripheral vision without the mask is close to 180 degrees.
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