Phuket Thailand's best scuba diving (+66) 0806 961 461
Why does my scuba mask fog up?

Why does my scuba mask fog up?

Why does my scuba mask fog up?

Fogging scuba or snorkeling masks have been a scuba diving issue since scuba diving first started.A foggy mask can ruin a dive. Here we will try and work out why does our scuba masks fog up?

The basic principle on why a mask fogs is a simple one. In the simplest term, temperature inside the mask is greater than the outside of the mask. The temperature difference occurs because our body temperature inside (skin, forehead, breathing) is around 37 degrees Celsius or 98 degrees Fahrenheit and the water on the outside of the mask is less than the water temperature.

Very basically, the temperature difference causes condensation (assisted by our damp breath or sweat) and settles on the glass of the mask. Glass is not the best surface for the condensation/water to adhere to and that something is typically the residue left over from the manufacturing process that coats the lens, dirt and oils on the lens.

The first step of making sure your mask is less prone to fogging is a perfectly clean mask.

Here are some tips to avoid having a foggy mask.

Scubapro Diver Display Centre Aussie Divers Phuket

Why does my scuba mask fog up?


Let Aussie Divers Phuket Find You a Great Mask

Change some habits

• Don’t breathe out of your nose!! I personally believe this is the greatest issue leading to mask fogging. The warm moist air from your inner body if perfect for creating condensation. When you first start diving it may be difficult to do however take some time to adjust to solely breathing in and out through your mouth. Exhaling through your nose undoubtedly cause of mask fog. Focus on mouth only breathing and you will go a long way to having less fogging issues.

• Have a correctly fitting mask, especially for those with Asian faces. Most universal masks are designed for the bigger western noses (such as the writers). The nostrils are sealed by the nose piece and it makes it very difficult to breath through and for damp air to enter the mask. Asian typically have small noses that don’t seal in the mask making it easier for them to exhale into the mask. Many scuba diving brands have Asian masks, Gull seems to be the leading the way and Cressi have a new rage being release soon. Further, a poorly fitting mask can let excess water in and that can also add to condensation issues.

• Avoid touching the inside of your mask. More so if you have just used defogger For fingers contains oils and touching your mask transfers those oils into it. This negates the defogger effect and dirtying your mask. Many divers apply defog using their fingers. Try to avoid doing that. More so if you are finding your mask still fogs after application. Use a defog that can easily swish around inside your mask rather than needing to be manually spread, and once it’s rinsed don’t put your hands back on it.

Enjoying The Dive Aussie Divers

Enjoying The Dive Aussie Divers


Let Aussie Divers Phuket Find You a Great Mask

General Care of your mask and good habits

As we have written in a previous blog, cleaning your mask with non-whitening toothpaste is a great way to reduce fog. We know to do this with a new mask however masks do get a buildup of gunk and they should be cleaned regularly. Salt water, grime and even chloring from a swimming pool can cause unwanted build up. Try to clean the mask with a soft bristled tooth brush and avoid touching the mask with your fingers.

Try to put put your mask on with a dry face. Dry your face with a dry towel if you can. If you need to and even wipe off the skirt of your mask. Try not to remove your mask off once it is in position. This hopefully will keep as much water out of the mask as possible.

Rinse your mask off with lukewarm or cool water after each dive. Then pat it dry with a clean, dry towel. Wash your mask every once in a while with mild soap to prevent your mask from getting any dirt or oils from building up on the lens. Always pat it dry with a clean, dry towel. Do not store your mask while it is wet. Cleaning and drying off your mask will also help prolong the life of your mask.

Scubapro Turtle Aussie Divers Phuket

Scubapro Turtle Aussie Divers Phuket

Mask Defogging Methods

Hopefully the toothpaste method keeps you mask fog free. Here are some additional ways of keeping you mask clear of fog.

• As mentioned previously, by using defog products. There are many brands of sprays and serums designed towards defogging snorkel and scuba masks. They mostly all work in work in a similar way. Read the directions before using, some require you to rinse the mask and some require the solution to dry and the defog to stay on the lens. All are relatively Inexpensive and should last you a long time.

• Baby shampoo is also a cheap and popular alternative to defog. Dilute a few drops of baby shampoo in water and pour it into a spray bottle. Use it the same way as commercial defog: spray, swish and rinse. Why baby shampoo and not regular shampoo? It’s gentle on the eyes and is biodegradable.

• Good old fashion human spit. This is a common, effective, and free way to fight mask fog. Some divers even say that spit is more effective than anything you can buy. This method may be decreasing in popularity given COVID-19. The process is the same. Apply, rinse, and wear it.

Let Aussie Divers Phuket Find You a Great Mask

By Darren Gaspari

Proud owner and active PADI Gold Course Director of Aussie Divers Phuket, a professional and awarded PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Scuba Diving Centre. Member of the PADI Advisory Board for the eLearning modules 2019 and 2020.

Posted in Everything Else on .

A Diving Community In Phuket

Here at Aussie Divers Phuket we don't just consider ourselves a PADI dive shop, we think of it as more, a big diving family of like minded individuals coming together to enjoy the marine environment through diving in Phuket & Thailand. We are always happy to chat with new divers or old, so please drop by anytime to see what is going on and if you have dived with us or want to dive with us than feel free to like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, read our community Dive Blog and generally stay in touch & stay informed.

Free Pool Try Scuba Diver Aussie Divers Phuket Helpful Diving Info

Do I Need to Know How To Swim to Scuba Dive?

This is a question that I often get asked, and really it is not as simple as YES or NO. Here is some explanations and reasons why. If you want to become a certified scuba diver by doing the PADI Open Water Diver Course, the answer is yes. In the PADI Open Water Diver Course it is specified that you have to be able to swim continuously for 200 metres. This can be with any stroke however it does need to be continuous without stopping. There is alternate option and that is you do a 300 metre mask, fin and snorkel swim. Some do find this easier to the 200 swim. You also have to be able to tread water or float for at least 10 minut [...]

Read The Story
Palong Wall Phi Phi Ley Sharks Turtles Scuba Diving Our Dives

A Day Trip to Phi Phi – More Than Just Scuba Diving

One of the most popular scuba diving day trips in Phuket is to the Phi Phi Islands. The islands are situated approximately 46 km’s east of Chalong Bay, Phuket. They are around 2 hours and 40 minutes boat ride on the larger day trip dive boats. The Phi Phi Islands are a group of 6 islands that make up the Hadnopparattara National Park. The Islands consist of Koh Phi Phi Don, Koh Phi Phi Ley, Koh Bida Nok, Koh Bida Nai, Mosquito Island and Bamboo Island (Koh Mai Pai). Book a day trip to Phi Phi with Aussie Divers Phuket As previously written the dive sites at Phi Phi are some of the best in the world.They provide the [...]

Read The Story
Maya Bay Phi Phi Islands Scuba Diving Best Day Trip News & Special Offers

National Park Fees for Phi Phi

The Thailand National Parks office informed the Phuket scuba diving industry on the 23rd March 2016 that they have introduced a daily fees for divers entering the Phi Phi Islands national park. This is similar to what is currently in place for the liveaboard adventures that visit the Similan and Surin National Parks. This effectively means there will be a fee of THB 600 for every diver and THB 400 for every non-diver that visits Koh Phi Phi National Park. Fees will be payable in cash on the boat when entering Phi Phi The fee is intended to help preserve the stunning marine fauna and flora found in the Koh Phi Phi Natio [...]

Read The Story