How to Clear Your Mask without Standing on the Coral

A leaky mask can ruin an underwater photography session. Water can leak into your mask for two reasons; the first is that your mask does not fit you properly and the second is that something is breaking the watertight seal your mask should create. Even a mask that fits properly can leak from time to time, but it’s easy to clear the water with a simple technique.

Clearing Your Mask

To clear your mask while swimming, push in on the top of your mask while tilting your head up and blow out through your nose. The water will exit through the bottom of your mask. Watch this video from Scuba Diving International to see how quick and easy it is.

The technique is the same for snorkeling as it is for diving, and best of all, you can keep swimming while you do it so you don’t have to find a place to stand up and take off your mask as novice snorkelers are apt to do. Standing and removing your mask is not a good idea for a few reasons:

1. Removing your mask will usually result in a foggy mask when you start snorkeling again, making it difficult to take photos
2. Standing up interrupts your snorkeling activity and leads you to separate from your group or buddy, particularly when you have to find a shallow, sandy spot to stand in
3. Standing on the reef damages coral that has taken decades to grow, so like our friend Dory from the movie Finding Nemo—just keep swimming, and leave the reef as picture perfect as you found it

Stopping the Leak

If your mask continues to leak, check for stray hairs that may be breaking the mask’s seal. Water can drip down even a small strand of hair that enters your mask, so sweep your hair away from your face when you put your mask on and consider using a head covering like a UV-resistant buff or hoodie. If you have a beard or mustache, it’s especially important to find a mask with a proper fit, and some men will shave just enough of their facial hair to keep the seal tight.

One More Tip

Resist the urge to pull your mask strap tighter as doing so will rarely stop a leak. If you have an mask impression around your face when you’re done snorkeling, that’s a clue that your mask is too tight. The job of the strap is too keep your mask from floating away, the fit of the mask is what holds it to your face and creates a waterproof seal, so it’s important to try on masks before you buy them. While I have no problem buying fins and snorkels and other equipment over the internet, a mask is the one item I prefer to go to a dive shop for.

All photographs are the property of Diane Thomas unless otherwise noted. They are protected by U.S. Copyright Laws, and are not to be downloaded or reproduced in any way without the written permission. Copyright 2019. Diane Thomas All Rights Reserved.