The scuba mask is one of the most important pieces of equipment that you will take with you on your dive. One of the most annoying problems that can occur while you are trying to swim is the fogging up of the mask. When it fogs up it keeps you from being able to see where you are going and to prevent you from running into unlikely sea creatures or large obstacles. When training to scuba dive you will learn simple tricks that will help you to defog it and to prevent this problem from occurring at all.
Cleaning
When you are using a new mask you need to break it in and clean it before you use it. These masks often have a layer of oil to keep the plastic and rubber from wearing down while sitting in the store. The oil will cause it to fog up quickly until it is removed. Use a soft scrub soap or toothpaste to remove the oil without scratching the lens.
Spit
It sounds gross – but it is one of the best tools you have. Many world renowned divers will use their own spittle and smear it around the inside of their lens and nosepiece. They will then rinse it out with sea water. This is not only effective – but it is free!
No Sunscreen
You are going to be under the water most of the time so you shouldn’t need to apply any sunscreen. This lotion is comprised of oils that will quickly fog up the lens. If you are wearing any make sure to wash it all off completely before you put the mask on. When you are on the boat stick to wearing a hat to block the sun.
Defogging Agent
There are sometimes when the water you are swimming in will cause the mask to fog up even after you have taken the necessary steps to try to prevent it. In most cases this is caused by the change in water temperature. To prevent this from happening you can apply a defogging agent to the inside of the mask. You can find this at a dive shop or online. After applying it do NOT rinse it out.
Flooding
If you are already under the water when it is fogging up there is only one thing you can do – flooding. Open a crack near the top of the scuba mask and fill it up with seawater. This will purge the inside of it. When you are done tilt the bottom of the mask up and exhale through the nose. The air will force the water out and take the fog with it.