A mask is the most personal piece of dive gear you will own. The right mask should seal gently, feel comfortable, clear easily and let you focus on the dive — not on water trickling into your eyes.
The biggest mistake divers make is choosing by colour, price, brand or online reviews alone. Every face is different. Nose bridge height, cheekbones, smile lines, facial hair, head shape and even how you relax your face underwater can affect mask fit. That is why the safest way to choose a mask is to have a dive professional fit it to you.
A mask can look perfect on the shelf and still leak underwater. Abyss instructors fit masks for students, certified divers, snorkellers, freedivers, bearded divers and people who have struggled with masks before. We can spot fit issues that are easy to miss when you are shopping alone.
A good fitting is not just a dry suction test. We look at the shape of your face, how the skirt sits, whether the nose pocket suits you, how the strap naturally positions the mask, and whether the mask is likely to stay comfortable once you are breathing and moving underwater.
Fit matters more than colour or brand.
The strap should not need to be pulled tight to stop leaks.
A soft silicone skirt usually seals better and lasts longer.
Hair, beards, smile lines and nose shape can all affect fit.
Instructor advice helps avoid buying the wrong mask first.
Why Abyss
Your Instructor Sees What Actually Happens Underwater
Buying a mask from a general online store leaves you guessing. Buying through Abyss means you have local divers and instructors who can help before, during and after your first dives.
If your mask leaks, we can help work out whether the issue is fit, hair under the skirt, strap tension, facial movement, exhaling through the nose, or mask-clearing technique. That is a much safer path than assuming the mask is wrong or that diving is not for you.
A leaky mask is one of the fastest ways to make learning feel stressful and off-putting. Every face is different, so mask fit matters more than colour, brand or price.
Buy your mask from Abyss for your course and we will fit it to your face. If it leaks during your course, tell your instructor and we will keep swapping masks until we find one that suits your face. That is the Abyss mask fit guarantee for divers on an Abyss course.
Best first purchase before your course: a mask that actually fits
Abyss supplies the standard gear you need during your Open Water course, so you do not need to buy a full kit before you learn. But if you buy one thing before your course, make it a professionally fitted mask. It can make your pool skills, mask clearing and first ocean dives feel much easier.
1
Buy from Abyss
Choose your course mask with help from people who teach beginners every week.
2
We fit it to you
We check how the skirt, nose pocket, strap and face shape work together.
3
Test it during training
If it leaks during your course, tell your instructor early.
4
We keep helping
We will keep swapping masks until we find one that suits your face.
The visual experience of the underwater world is one of the main reasons people learn to dive, so your mask is not a minor accessory. A poorly fitted mask can leak, distract you, make mask clearing harder, and create anxiety in inexperienced divers. A professionally fitted mask helps you relax and enjoy the dive.
Mask components
Lens: tempered glass panes that act as your underwater window.
Skirt: the silicone seal that sits against your face.
Buckles: the adjustment system for the strap.
Strap: keeps the mask positioned correctly; it should not be over-tightened.
What professionals check
Whether the skirt contacts your face evenly.
Whether the nose pocket is comfortable and easy to pinch.
Whether the mask sits naturally without strap pressure.
Whether hair, beard or smile lines may cause leaks.
Mask types
Different Mask Types Suit Different Faces
There is no universal best mask shape. Single lens, twin lens and frameless masks can all be excellent when fitted correctly. The right choice depends on your face, comfort, prescription needs and the type of diving you plan to do.
Single Lens Masks
A single pane of glass often gives a more open, uninterrupted field of vision. Many new divers find this less enclosed and more comfortable. Single lens masks are not always the easiest option for optical prescription lenses.
Twin Lens Masks
A twin-lens mask has two separate lenses divided at the nose pocket. These masks are often lower volume, popular with freedivers, and commonly preferred when optical lenses are needed.
Frameless Masks
Frameless masks use silicone to wrap around the lens structure instead of a traditional frame. They often offer excellent field of vision, low volume and a compact feel, making them popular with many experienced divers.
Skirt guide
The Skirt Is the Most Important Part of Fit
The mask skirt is the soft material that creates the watertight seal against your face. At Abyss, we only sell silicone masks because quality silicone seals better, stays softer and lasts longer than cheaper materials.
Skirts vary in width, shape and softness. A mask that works perfectly for one diver may leak on another. This is the main reason professional fitting matters.
Soft silicone helps create a more forgiving seal.
Wider skirts may suit some faces, narrower skirts suit others.
High-end masks may combine structure with a very soft face seal.
The skirt should seal without the strap being pulled tight.
Clear or black silicone?
Choose Comfort and Vision
Black or coloured silicone is preferred by many dive professionals because it reduces distracting light and reflections. This can make your forward vision feel cleaner and more focused.
Clear silicone lets in more ambient light, which some beginners find more comfortable because the mask can feel less enclosed. The best choice depends on your comfort and diving style.
All masks sold at Abyss have tempered glass lenses. If a mask lens is not tempered, it is not suitable for scuba diving. Some higher-end masks also use premium optical glass or anti-reflective coatings to improve light transmission and reduce visual distortion.
Lens or mask feature
Why it matters
Professional fitting note
Tempered glass
Stronger and safer than ordinary glass for scuba use.
Essential for scuba diving masks.
Low volume
Less air space inside the mask, which can make clearing easier.
Useful for many divers, but fit still comes first.
Wide field of view
Can help new divers feel more relaxed and less enclosed.
The mask still needs to seal on your face.
Anti-reflective coating
Can improve clarity by reducing reflective light disturbances.
Excellent feature, but only valuable if the mask fits.
Prescription lens compatibility
Allows divers with vision correction needs to see more clearly underwater.
Often easier with twin-lens masks.
Fit still beats features
Premium lenses, low volume and anti-reflective coatings are useful features, but they do not compensate for poor fit. If the mask leaks or hurts your face, it is the wrong mask for you.
Prescription and corrective lenses
Can You Wear Glasses or Contacts While Diving?
You cannot wear normal glasses under a dive mask, but most divers with vision needs have good options. Things appear approximately 33% larger or closer underwater due to refraction, so divers with mild correction may still see well enough. If you need more help, contact lenses or prescription mask options may suit you.
Soft contact lenses
Disposable soft contact lenses work well for many divers and can be worn before and after the dive. Keep your eyes closed while clearing your mask and carry a spare set just in case.
Pre-made optical lenses
Some masks can be fitted with pre-made optical correction lenses. These usually use the sphere measurement of your prescription and are commonly available in 0.5 increments.
Custom lens advice
If your prescription is more complex, contact us before buying. We can discuss options and help you avoid choosing a mask that cannot support your vision needs.
Buy the right gear at the right time
What Should a New Diver Buy First?
New divers do not need to buy a full set of scuba gear before learning. The smartest first purchases are personal-fit items that improve comfort, confidence and the chance you will keep diving. For Sydney diving, that usually starts with mask, snorkel, boots, fins and gloves.
Buy firstMask
A properly fitted mask reduces leaks, stress and mask-clearing frustration.
Own earlySnorkel
Simple, useful and part of a practical personal starter kit.
Shore comfortBoots
Helpful for shore entries and for fitting open-heel fins properly.
Fit & controlFins
Familiar fins make kicking more predictable and comfortable.
Sydney tipGloves
Gloves help keep hands warm and protect against accidental cuts on rocks and ladders. They are not for touching marine life.
A well-fitting mask should sit evenly against your face and lightly seal without the strap. There should be no obvious gaps along the skirt, and it should not press painfully on your nose bridge, upper lip or forehead. An instructor can spot fit issues most people miss.
Why do you recommend professional mask fitting?
Because no mask fits every face. Professional fitting helps avoid common problems such as choosing a mask that is too narrow, too wide, too stiff, wrong for your nose shape, or only seals when the strap is over-tightened.
What is the Abyss student mask fit guarantee?
If you buy your mask from Abyss for your course, we will fit it to your face. If it leaks during your course, tell your instructor and we will keep swapping masks until we find one that suits your face.
Should I buy a mask before my Open Water course?
You do not have to, because Abyss supplies the standard course equipment. However, if you buy one item before your course, a properly fitted mask is the best first purchase because a leaky mask can make learning more stressful than it needs to be.
What causes a mask to leak?
Common causes include poor fit, hair under the skirt, facial hair, strap tension that is too tight, smiling or clenching the face, poor mask position, or exhaling through the nose. We can help work out which issue is affecting you.
What is the difference between clear and black silicone skirts?
Clear silicone lets in more ambient light, which some beginners find comforting. Black silicone reduces reflections and distractions, which many experienced divers, photographers and freedivers prefer. Fit is still more important than colour.
How do I stop my mask from fogging?
New masks usually need preparation before first use to remove manufacturing residue. After that, use a suitable defog product before diving and rinse the mask correctly. Fogging is different from leaking, but both can distract new divers.
Can I get a prescription scuba mask?
Yes, many divers use contact lenses or masks with optical correction lenses. Twin-lens masks are often easier for prescription lens options. Contact Abyss before buying if you have specific prescription needs.
Ask Abyss before you buy
Let a Dive Professional Find the Right Mask for You
Your mask should help you love diving, not fight it. Before you guess online or buy a mask because it looks good, let Abyss help you choose one that fits your face, suits your diving and gives you local support if something does not feel right.
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