Mask Fogging

Please register or login

Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.

Benefits of registering include

  • Ability to post and comment on topics and discussions.
  • A Free photo gallery to share your dive photos with the world.
  • You can make this box go away

Joining is quick and easy. Log in or Register now!

Put your mask in the dive boat's water (soap) bucket as soon as you get aboard, leave it there until you get ready to jump in. Preping the mask with 50/50 baby shampoo and water in a spary bottle does a great job for me before I hit the water.
 
Anyone use SoftScrub to clean the lens? It's probably a bit more abrasive than toothpaste. Does it work better?
 
The other possibility is that you re-contaminated the mask with make-up, hand lotion, sunscreen or salad dressing.

My mask isn't big enough to toss a salad in... :D
 
Okay so I bought a new mask and did the whole scrub with toothpaste thing and used "500 psi" anti fog goo and the mask still fogs up really bad (enough to make me surface early on a dive, fortuantly my buddy doesn't mind flooding it to clear it and just switched with me). I know I have a tendance to nose breath periodically but my old mask doesn't have this problem (the old $15 U.S. Divers mask I might add) Any ideas?
Don't forget to drop the mask in the water bucket as soon as you start to set your gear up. Keep it out of direct sun, else the mask warms up. That keeps the mask cool and with soap/spit, both my masks work great.
 
I apply baby shampoo days before a dive so it has a chance to gum up, then a very quick rinse to even it out before jumping in. It will last for the whole day.

I once lost two dive days because I got an eye irritation from using the soap bucket on a boat. My mask flooded and sea water mixed with the soap got into my eyes, that's why baby shampoo is best and way cheaper than the specialised stuff sold for the purpose, there is 5¢ worth of materials in those tiny $6.95 bottles.
 
I use a 50/50 mix of Johnson's Baby shampoo and water. For me it works better than any of the commercial stuff. I Spray it in the mask and don't rinse it out. No problems with fogging..

YMMV

Mark

I'll try this idea ^_^ :rofl3:
 
I use baby shampoo/H2O, and have had nothing but great results. But with that said it -doesn't stick aroud too long if you tend to flood and clear. I learned it from a DM in Ambergris, and now i won't use any thing else --I too started with the expensive defoggers.

:froggy:
 
I use baby shampoo/H2O, and have had nothing but great results. But with that said it -doesn't stick aroud too long if you tend to flood and clear. I learned it from a DM in Ambergris, and now i won't use any thing else --I too started with the expensive defoggers.

:froggy:

This is exactly for that reason I don't dilute the shampoo, I even let it thicken up in the sun or even I apply it the night before so it stands up to many floodings.
 
spotlessly clean glass will not fog. or at least not so badly that you will notice. scrubbing with toothpaste at least 3-4 times will get the initial manufacturing crud off, some will take more or less depending on how thorough you are.

The other issue that I have had is to over rinse the 500PSI out. I apply it with a wet finger, and use the absolute minimum amount, and then don't over rinse, just a little water to get the haze off and your ready to go. Don't stick your oily fingers back in there anymore than you need to, if the boat has a fresh water rinse hose, I use that vice my finger.

I have found this seems to work well for me and I exhale through my nose a lot.
 
I know this thread is a bit old but I thought I would share what works for me.

When I dive I have to flood the mask like every 2 minutes I generate so much fog. Most if not every pitcure ever taken of me diving shows my mask completely fogged over. Just the way it is for me I guess. I have read every thread ever written on the subject, started a few myself and tried every possible combination of tricks. Here is what works for me.

Before I leave for any dive trip I do the burn method others have described here. I just use a small lighter and carefully heat the lens until they form a thin layer of carbon. I then whipe them clean with a clean soft cloth and run the masks through the dishwasher. Using these two methods I have found I do not need much more than good old spit to stay crystal clear although I do use a drop of 500psi or equal.

I have used this on the last couple of trips and it has worked like a charm. YMMV
 

Back
Top Bottom