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Scuba Mask

In scuba diving, the scuba mask is a diver’s window to the aquatic world. Human eyes were designed for terrestrial sight and hence we cannot see clearly under the water, unaided. Light has a different refractive index in water than on land and although humans can see underwater it is very blurry and distorted. But with the aid of a mask, which provides a pocket of air between eyes and mask, the refractory index reverts to what we experience on land and allows us to see clearly.

It is very important that the scuba mask enclose both the diver’s eyes and nose. This is because the sinus cavities connect both nose and eyes through various airways, and an imbalance could be very dangerous. If you were to dive in standard swim goggles your eyes would eventually suck out of your head into the goggles due to the pressure differential. But as useful as a mask is, a diver must be prepared to lose it.

There are many reasons why a diver might lose their scuba mask and there are also times a mask may get flooded. This necessitates being able to find and clear your mask of water while underneath it. This is done by tipping the head back and exhaling into the mask while leaving a small crack between nose and face. Being able to successfully perform this task is an integral part of the sport. A diver should always attempt to find to recover their mask although it is possible to ascend without it.

 

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