How to fit a snorkel mask that does not leak

Nearly every complaint about snorkelling starts with water in the mask. It ruins the first ten minutes, then the next ten, and eventually people decide they do not enjoy snorkelling. In almost every case the mask is fine and the fit is wrong, and the fix costs nothing.

The suction test, done properly

Hold the mask against your face with the strap dangling behind, not over your head. Inhale gently through your nose and let go with your hands. A mask that fits stays put on its own for several seconds. One that drops immediately, or hisses, does not suit the shape of your face.

Do this with your face relaxed and your mouth closed. Smiling changes the shape of the upper lip and gives a false result, which is why masks that pass the test in a shop sometimes fail on the boat.

The strap is not a clamp

The strap exists to stop the mask sliding off, not to hold it against your face. Water pressure does the sealing. A strap tightened until it hurts distorts the skirt and creates the very gaps it was tightened to close, and it leaves a headache after an hour.

Set it just snug enough that the mask does not move when you shake your head, then leave it alone. If it still leaks, the mask shape is wrong, and no amount of tension will change that.

Hair, sunscreen and other seal breakers

A single strand of hair under the skirt makes a channel that water follows. Sweep a fringe back before fitting, and if you have a moustache, expect the upper-lip seal to be the weak point — a smear of silicone grease along the seal is the usual remedy.

Sunscreen on the face is the other common culprit. Apply it well before you swim, and wipe the sealing area clean before the mask goes on.

Skirt material makes a real difference

Soft silicone conforms to the face, stays flexible in cold water and does not yellow. PVC is cheaper, stiffer and hardens with sun exposure, and it is the reason a bargain mask often stops sealing after one holiday. Every mask on our shelf uses silicone, which is one of the few specifications worth being inflexible about.

A double-feathered skirt edge — two thin lips rather than one thick one — seals over a wider range of face shapes and is worth looking for.

Volume, field of view and why they trade off

Low-volume masks sit close to the face, are easy to clear and give a slightly narrower view. Larger-volume masks with side windows give a panoramic view and take more breath to clear. Neither is better; they suit different people and different depths.

If you plan to duck-dive at all, low volume is easier. If you will stay on the surface looking down, the wider view is more enjoyable.

Full-face masks are a different decision

A full-face mask lets you breathe through the nose and gives an unusually wide view, which many people find far more relaxing. They also fit a narrower range of faces and cannot be used for duck-diving, because there is no way to equalise the nose.

Sizing matters more here than with a conventional mask: the seal runs around the whole face, so a size that is slightly too large leaks along the chin. Check the manufacturer’s face-length guidance rather than guessing between small and medium.

Children and smaller faces

A child’s mask is not simply a small adult mask; the skirt is shaped for a shorter nose bridge and a narrower face. Putting a child in an adult mask is the fastest way to convince them they dislike the water.

The same applies to adults with narrow features. Several of the masks we stock are explicitly cut for smaller faces, and the listing says so.

Getting it right the first time

Do the suction test, keep the strap loose, clear the hair, and choose silicone. That is genuinely most of it. If you would rather try a couple of shapes against your own face before deciding, the counter on Grand Street has them out of the box and you are welcome to.

Clearing a mask that has taken water

Even a well-fitting mask takes water occasionally, and knowing how to clear it turns a scare into a non-event. Press the top edge of the frame gently against your forehead, tilt your face upward slightly, and breathe out steadily through your nose. The air pushes the water down and out under the bottom of the skirt.

The instinct to press the whole mask against your face is what makes it difficult, because it seals the bottom edge you are trying to push water through. Practise it standing in waist-deep water a few times and it becomes automatic, which is exactly when it stops being alarming.

The short version

• Test the seal by inhaling gently through the nose with the strap off.
• A strap pulled tight is a symptom of a bad fit, not a fix for one.
• Any hair under the skirt breaks the seal, including a fringe.
• Silicone skirts seal better than PVC and last far longer.

From our shelves

• Bairuifu 2-Pack Snorkel Gear for Adults — $23.99
• CRESSI Adult Snorkeling Set in Comfortable Pure Silicone – Mask & Semi-Dry Snorkel — $41.32
• DiVLMT Snorkeling Gear for Adults with Bag Anti-Fog Snorkel Sets for Travel — $33.99

Where to go next

Browse the full range on the shop page, read the frequently asked questions before ordering, or check delivery timing on the Shipping Policy page. If you would rather ask a person, contact us — the phone reaches the counter.