Black silicone or clear silicone in TUSA Visualator mask?

[BORG]

I was looking at my LDS today at masks. I happen to be looking at the TUSA Visualator masks. I have a TUSA Tri Viseo-EX in clear silicone. I've dove it once, it's OK but not as big as lens as the Visualator. I haven't had a black shirted mask since the early '80s. I am not a photographer do I intend to become one. I like the large lens of the Visualator and the relatively low volume for easy clearing.
I dive mostly in a local lake with 15-20 vis on a good day and maybe one or two trips to Florida during the summer if I'm lucky. I am looking for maximum comfort and vision with the Visualator I pick?
Any suggestions from current owners of this mask?

[RJP]

I like the large lens of the Visualator and the relatively low volume for easy clearing.

You're kidding about it being "relatively low volume" I hope. According to ScubaDiving magazine it is twice the volume of the average mask, and second only to a HydrOptix in terms of overall volume.

I used to dive a Visualator and switched to the Atomic Frameless. Greater field of view horizontally and vertically, much more comfortable, much lower volume. I'd suggest you look at the Atomic or any of the similar frameless masks. See recent review in ScubaDiving Magazine. (10 Frameless Masks - Scuba Diving Magazine (http://www.scubadiving.com/gear/masks/10_frameless_masks))

http://www.scubadiving.com/upload/images/gear/200802_frameless_masks_03.jpg
http://www.scubadiving.com/upload/images/gear/200802_frameless_masks_03a.jpg

The Tilos Excel was the only other mask with as wide a field of view, though not as good looking downward as the Atomic:

http://www.scubadiving.com/upload/images/gear/200802_frameless_masks_08.jpg
http://www.scubadiving.com/upload/images/gear/200802_frameless_masks_08a.jpg

BTW - low-volume frameless masks achieve a greater field of view with a smaller lens because the lens is closer to your eyes.

[BORG]

I tried the Atomic. Nice mask, but a little narrow for my mug to fit . I tried on the black silicone version of the Visualator and the lens was alot closer to my eyes than I would've thought= low volume. Look at the reviews from Leisure Pro on this mask, 25 mostly positive. I was just wanting to know what owners of this mask had to say on Scubaboard

[Firefyter]

I had a Visualator up until last year, when my old eyes forced me to go to a gauge reader mask. I really liked it, but I needed the magnification to read my computer, especially on the night dives. If it wasn't for that, I'd still be using it and have no problem recommending it.

The one I had was clear skirted, and the new mask has a black skirt. After using both, I really like the black skirt much better. I never realized how much of a glare I was getting with the clear skirt until I tried the black one. The clear skirt doesn't really allow for peripheral vision, it just lets light in, which in my case created glare. With the black skirt, no glare, and it seems to me at least that I focus better on whatever it is I'm looking at. YMMV.

[amajamar]

Black skirt, no question about it!

[BORG]

If I can focus on the reading my gauges better with the black shirt(I'm 53 and wear contacts) and and I have a bigger lens than the TUSA Tri Viseo X, then I guess that puts my vote toward the Visualator with a black shirt. It seemed softer also when I tried it on.

[bogrady]

I guess I'll be the contrarian here. I have the Visualator with the black skirt and I'm going to switch back to the clear skirt. I miss the additional visual clues that a clear skirt provides - not real peripheral vision, but I seem to get a better sense of what's just outside my field of view with a clear skirt.

[micklock]

I used my son's mask with a clear skirt the other day and had to cup my hands around the skirt to get rid of the glare. I just ordered a new mask for him with a black skirt, I went with the Dive Rite es115.

[agilis]

The Visualator is an excellent mask for people with broad or large faces. Neither of the Atomics, frameless or semi, even come close to fitting me. They are really quite small, so their low volume is no surprise. Unfortunately, my nose touches the glass before the rubber skirt reaches my face. I understand that most masks now come in two sizes, small and very small, but those Atomics feel like toys. On the other hand, the Visualator is a perfect fit for me, and I've never had any problems connected with mask volume.
Black silicone is my choice, absolutely. Black eliminates glare problems, and the Visualator's black silicone is noticably softer than the clear.

[BORG]

I think I may go that route also. I dive in Lake Lanier north of Atlanta alot and I would like a mask that helps me read my computer better. I am 53 and wear soft contacts. I've some people say that they can focus better and see clearer with a black silicone mask. Lanier can be like alot of lakes, murky often.

[dave4868]

I like the Wintech model FS-106, which appears to be the same mask as the Tusa Visualator, but for about half the price. Got mine with a black skirt from my LDS for about $35. No more glare.

Here's a link to the company's online offerings:

Wintech Diving. A Wholesale Diving Store (http://www.wintechdiving.com/divemasks.htm)

It's a relatively large volume mask, but that's not a concern for me, since I'm rarely in high current situations.

I might add that it fits well on my averaged-sized face, but it can certainly accomodate larger faces, as advertised (see it on my mug in my Profile, if you like).

Dave C

[D_B]

I have both a black and a clear Visulator and I like the black skirted one better

[BORG]

What do you like about the black one in particular. Comfort, vision, ability to see better close up?

[D_B]

It seams the same for comfort, fit (can go whole dive and not clear it) and I think that I can see out better, than I can with the clear skirted one .. the arguments for cutting down on reflections and being able to see better with a black skirt are true, and would apply to everyone, but, those that feel claustrophobic or need/want the visual cues from being able to see slightly through the clear skirted one would like that one better ..

[Gombessa]

Black, if only for the reason that you can't stop clear from yellowing after a few months.

[jldodd]

I have the visulator with a clear skirt and love it. The only issue I encounter with it is if I smile, I break the seal on the mask every time and have to clear it. It doesn't happen with any of the smaller masks that I have worn. So from now on I refuse to have any kind of fun on dives and then I don't have to worry about breaking the seal!

[bgi]

I have the visualator and atomic subframe. While I like them both, the visualator has a HUGE volume compared to any other mask I've tried. The mask is so big, I have to take care not to turn my head too fast or the drag from the water will rip it loose and shift it left or right on my face. Having said that, I still like it because of one feature that folks tend to either ignore or not mention: Having the glass further from your eyes provides a clearer view than having the glass really close to your eyes. The atomic sub works well, but the view, especially downward, suffers from distortion because the glass is so close to my eyes. Even so, I use the atomic more often. To simulate what I'm talking about, press your face up to an aquarium and look around. Notice the distortion? Now back away slowly and watch the distortion quickly disappear. It's like looking through a prism.