What Is a Full Face Mask?

People are always looking for ways to make themselves more comfortable while scuba diving. The full face mask is one innovation that is relatively new. Full-face masks have lately been made available for recreational diving, despite previously only being used by commercial divers and those engaged in scientific research. A full-face scuba mask covers your entire face, as the name suggests. This mask combines the purpose of both the regulator that is attached to your mouth and the mask that covers your eyes and nose. With a full face diving mask, the diver can freely communicate with other divers because they are no longer required to hold the regulator in their mouth. Because you don’t have to bite down on the regulator’s mouthpiece, it also effectively reduces jaw fatigue.

How Do Full Face Diving Masks Work?

The full diving mask has a mouthpiece and a demand valve or gas supply that supplies air to the diver. There are several ways to attach this demand valve to your air supply, including from the top, through a hole in the silicone skirt, or the bottom of the mask. The full face mask comes in a variety of forms, but they all have a system that enables divers to breathe in atmospheric air when they are above or at the surface of the water. To allow air to enter, this may comprise a surface valve or a snorkel. Additionally, this enables divers to conserve air in their gas tanks for use when submerged. When using a full face scuba mask, it is important to know how to equalize and clear it. 

How to Equalize Your Full Face Diving Mask?

In order to dive, all divers must equalize. Equalizing can be done by pressing a built-in nose plug or a nasal skirt. These nose plugs can be adjusted in most full face masks as different divers have different facial features, shapes, and sizes.

How to Clear Your Full Face Scuba Mask?

Full face diving masks don’t flood often. However, despite that, divers must be prepared to face such an event. Clearing a full face scuba mask should be done systematically. You need to look down and press the purge button until your mask is clear. It might not be feasible to breathe during the process. This is why having a backup mask is advised.

Pros and Cons of Full Face Scuba Diving Masks

Full face diving masks come with both pros and cons. Nevertheless, considering the number of advantages it brings, getting a full face mask will be worth the cost if you are a professional or a regular diver.

Pros of Having a Full Face Diving Mask

Here are the advantages of having a full face scuba diving mask:

1. Easy to breathe

The full face diving masks have a comfortable fit for breathing. Compared to conventional masks, both breathing in and breathing out are made more comfortable with a full diving mask.

2. Wider vision

Many full face dive masks come with curved safety lenses. These have a rectangular shape with rounded corners that are curved around the head. In essence, this improves the field of view, so that divers can see better.

3. Painless for the jaw

Using a standard scuba diving mask frequently results in jaw pain. This discomfort is removed by a full-face scuba mask that does not demand frequent chewing of a mouthpiece.

4. Minimized fogging

When using a full face scuba diving mask, fogging is minimal. Constant airflow and integrated ventilation help to keep the inside of the mask from becoming too damp.

5. Convenient underwater communication

A few full face masks have built-in microphones for convenient communication. This includes improved diver-to-diver communication. Speaking is simple with integrated intercoms, especially since there is no mouthpiece to worry about.

6. Facilitates quick equalizing

Full face scuba diving masks frequently have nose clamps built in. This guarantees quick and simple equilibration. These clamps can frequently be adjusted to increase diving comfort.

7. Preserve body heat

It can be uncomfortable to dive into a cold environment. In extremely cold climates, drysuits are required. A full face mask, however, completely encloses the face. It does a better job of regulating body temperature than a typical scuba diving mask.

8. Snorkel clearing is needless

Traditional snorkels can be used underwater at certain dive spots. Although they often contain a device to stop water from seeping in, leaks are still likely to happen. Full face masks do not have a snorkel attached. As a result, you are not required to maintain and clean your snorkel after each dive. Additionally, you won’t have to put up with water that makes you cough and feel uneasy when swimming. Without having to worry about gulping down some salt water, you can enjoy your dive better with a full face diving mask.

9. Ideal for bearded divers

It’s possible for facial hair, such as your beard or other stray hairs, to get lodged in a normal scuba mask and cause it to leak. For divers who have problems wearing standard masks due to their moustaches and beards, the full face mask is a better choice as it completely covers your face.

10. No risk of losing the regulator

You are less likely to lose your regulator in the middle of a dive because it is integrated into the mask itself. It is also great for those who may find it difficult to hold onto a regulator due to dental problems of any kind.

Cons of Having a Full Face Diving Mask

Even though the full face scuba mask is a good choice, it also has a few disadvantages. Below are the disadvantages of having a full face diving mask:

1. Difficult to clear

It takes longer to clear a full face scuba diving mask. Due to its bigger size, there is a chance that more water will get inside. This implies that the clearing procedure of a full face diving mask takes a long time, unlike a regular mask.

2. Has high buoyancy

The volume of the full-face diving mask is greater, which unintentionally results in greater buoyancy. In essence, this means that the upper body is dragging upward and thus divers must work harder to keep their swimming form. Basically, compared to standard masks, divers wearing full face masks may wind up tiring out fast.

3. Comparatively more expensive

The high price is another drawback of full face diving masks. Compared to traditional diving masks, full face scuba masks require a larger upfront investment. This is a reason why many recreational divers simply go with the traditional diving mask.

4. Comes in bulky designs

Full-face masks need a lot of straps to keep them in place because they are bigger and heavier. The mask may flood or fall off completely if something isn’t in place with these straps, which will be more difficult to adjust than those in traditional masks.

5. Not suitable for snorkeling or free-diving

The pressure increases as you delve deeper into the sea. The design of full-face masks prevents you from equalizing the increasing pressure, unlike conventional masks. 

By inhaling through your nose, you can adjust the water pressure on conventional masks. They are free-divers’ preferred choice.

When Is It Crucial to Wear a Full Diving Mask?

Aside from professional divers, beginners make excellent use of full face scuba diving masks as breathing is made simple with them. When scuba diving in incredible places close to shipwrecks and coral reefs, diving masks with a broader field of view are worth wearing. However, when moving frequently from one diving location to another, large and hefty full face scuba masks aren’t as useful as regular diving masks.

Do Full Face Diving Masks Come with Risks?

The full face scuba mask is an innovative diving gear that makes diving easy in many ways. It provides additional protection, such as allowing you to breathe even if you are having an underwater panic attack and experiencing the adverse effects of oxygen toxicity. Some features, nevertheless, come with increased risks. Some full-face scuba masks have a separate chamber for your mouth and nose; if the plastic faceplate of your mask is damaged, water will enter this area and reduce or cut off your air supply, which can be fatal. This is the major component that scuba divers should be aware of.

Where Can You Get Top-Notch Full Face Diving Masks?

Are you looking to buy a high-quality scuba full face mask in Singapore? Visit Scuba Warehouse Singapore to choose from a wide range of top-notch full face scuba masks for a safe dive. At Scuba Warehouse SG, now you can find diving masks of top brands such as Apollo Full Face Mask and Gull Mantis Full Face Mask at affordable rates. Visit the official website of Scuba Warehouse Singapore and get your scuba mask and all other scuba gear under one roof.