Black Is The New Black

I'd been shown this mask some time back now and last Friday I borrowed one for a dive. I loved it so much I bought my own the very same day.

I have been hearing the pros and cons of black masks for years. I have always loved the extreme peripherial vision that comes with a mask with a clear silicon skirt, in spite of the lack of clarity through the skirt. The need to be aware of other divers on the extreme periphery has always been the priority for me as a dive instructor.

Enter Aqualung's Micromask...

This mask is simply amazing in how it sits so close to your face and how little volume it has. I can nearly touch the glass with my eye lashes. Doing a mask clear requires little more than a puff of air. With this mask sitting so close to my face, the peripheral vision is excellent. Maybe it is not quite as good for that extreme peripheral awareness, but the peripheral vision you do have is through glass - and uncompromised.

Black Is Best ... or My Unbiased Product Review ( honest I paid full price for mine! )

So why are black masks popular? Well, the disadvantage of having any source of light coming from behind the mask lens is that of internal reflection and glare. This light can come in through a clear mask skirt or through side lenses. At best, it will reduce the perceived contrast of your primary vision. At worst, it will be distracting and annoying.

The Cons

I think I only found two points about this mask which could be improved. The first is the design of the buckle. Even though it does its job very well, it does have multiple plastic parts, which increases its potential for failure. In comparison, a mask like the Mares X-Vision binds to the skirt giving the same flexibility with no breakable parts. My second point of issue, although minor, is the extreme shininess of the black silicon on the inside of the mask. I found that this shininess can also lead to reflections and glare, so I will be getting stuck into it with some fine grade wet-rub until it is nice and matt.

Summary

In 18 years of diving, the Technisub Micromask is my first ever black mask. It solves my old complaint of poor peripheral vision, prevents the glare from side and back lighting, clears with the slightest puff of air and most importantly it fits my face like a glove. I am very happy with my new mask and have to agree that black really is the new black!

As an aside, trying to take a good photograph of a shiny black silicon mask was much more difficult than some of the marine life I photograph! Try it yourself!

Until the next post, take care out there and keep diving ( if that's what you do! ) ...Robert