My husband and I have just started scuba diving so we don't know all the little tricks to this. We've tried the crest toothpast and spit. What else can I try for a continuously fogging mask?
Typically toothpaste is used to remove the 'oily' film left buy the manufacturing process and may take one or two cleaning to get it all. make sure you clean both sides of the lens. Of course spit is the natural defogger ;) Have you considered buying a commercial defogging solution. A small bottle would last you both 100's of dives. BTW commercial defoggers are merely a very very diluted liquid dish washing type soap. Be aware that as soon as you remove your mask for any reason you will have to reapply any solution.
"Be aware that as soon as you remove your mask for any reason you will have to reapply any solution."
Not entirely true. I assist with instructing students, and as such I am always putting my mask on, taking it off, above and below the water. I defog my mask once each dive, and I usually have no problems with fogging issues.
I have found that the best way to remain fog free is to spit in a DRY mask - must be dry - and use your finger to spead evenly. Quickly rinse the mask and keep it on for the duration of your dive.
A second method is to apply a drop of green dish soap to your mask and similarily smear with your finger and rinse once.
As will any defogging method, you must ensure that your mask fits properly and stays on for the duration of the dive.
My experience over the years has indicated some pointers and here they are.
WHEN THE MASK IS NEW, it is necessary to remove that factory oily film it is covered with. To best do that, use some toothpaste together with some mild oil cutting fluid like dish washing liquid. Using some toilet paper, work this mixture into the glass and the rubber parts of the mask WITHOUT WATER!! You may have to add toothpaste and dish soap as the paper absorbs most of it during the process. Rinse well with water, dry with towel or paper and repeat the process. Make sure that you go over the entire area of the mask, inside and out. Even the hard to reach spots where the rubber meets the glass. Finally rinse very well using toothbrush or paint brush to get the paste out of the narrow edges where it should have entered. Your mask is now ready to use.
When you are about to wear your mask for a dive, cut some seaweed (if accessible), shake off the water from it and spit on the glass using the seaweed to work the saliva into the glass with circular motion. Do this for both the inside and outside of the glass. Rinse fast and wear. The point of fast rinsing is to remove excess saliva and weed crumbs but still leave an unnoticeable film on the glass. This must be done at the last minute before the dive. If you wait too long to wear the mask, this thin film can dry and you'll have to repeat the process.
Seaweed have a substance that helps in fog prevention. If not available just use your finger to do the same. It is better to work the saliva on dry glass (before you wet the mask).
What also works very well is potato! Cut a small potato in half and use it to work the potato juice into the glass.
MOST IMPORTANT: Do not wet your face before you wear your mask! Otherwise, the water on your face will evaporate by the temperature of your skin inside the mask and fog it.
I am sure this will solve your worries as it has done for me.
Spit in your mask does work, but there are several products you can pick up to solve this problem. I personally like a brand called 500 psi, its a thick gel and works the same way, smear around on the inside of the lens, and rinse. This will help, but keep in mind to exhale thru your mouth, not your nose. Thats the best advice I can offer. Hope this is helpful.
The best, and cheapest way is to rub a small piece of potato on the inside of your mask lens. Learned this diving in the Galapagos in 2006 nd has worked for the 100 plus subsequent dives.
I'm an instructor and dive store owner, so at first, this may seem biased but consider this: I can and have tried many products including spit (but never potatoes) and this is what I've discovered:
For any defog to work, the mask glass MUST be clean. Spit works decently in tropical waters, but I've found 500psi to be the best for my local dive environment (Lake Superior) and Sea Drops Gold is a very close second.
What defog does is provide a "sheeting action" to prevent condensation from forming on the glass; kind of like a good wax job on a car ~ the water just runs off the vertical surfaces. The "thicker" the defog, the better it's going to work because it tends to stay on longer. The thin/runny & spray-on defog only works for a single dive or even part of a dive because it rinses off much faster. I've dove for 2 days on a single application of 500 psi because I forgot to put the defog in my dive bag. (Obviously your mileage may vary here.) I wouldn't bother putting defog on the outside of your mask because it's going to be wet while you're underwater (~no condensation!)
I've heard of algae working, but just like a potato, it's a plant and there are lots of things in veggie juice that will thinly coat a mask enough to provide "sheeting action" and not allow condensation to form. I'd imagine carrots, watermelon rind and apples would work about as well.
Here's a few tips:
Avoid putting the mask on your forehead before or between dives. The sun beating down on your sweaty little head creates a hot humid micro-environment which pretty much removes the defog.
Watch exhaling through your nose. Many new divers will do it without even realizing it. This will cause your mask to fog underwater after a short time regardless of what you use for defog.
Clean your mask glass (w/ toothpaste and fingertips a few times, rinsing in between) when new & every new dive season. Sweat contains skin oils and maybe sunscreen that collects on the glass and gives the condensation a "grip" on the glass and that will reduce defog effectiveness.
Sometimes it helps to clean the rubber/silicone parts of a new mask to keep the mold release (oil) agent from getting back on the faceplate. If it's really stubborn, use a clean washcloth with the toothpaste. It won't disintegrate like TP or a paper towel.
The fogging is caused by temperature differential. You are almost certainly exhaling through your nose, which fills the mask with warm, moist air. Use a simple defogger like spit, and completely flood your mask. This will cool off your face and remind you to stop exhaling through your nose.
Scuba Diving magazine rated defoggers and psi500 was at the top of the list. I have 160 dives and have used psi500 on all of them with no problems. It comes in a small bottle and is easy to carry onto the boat for use. Get a bottle at your local dive shop.
500PSI defogger is the best ever in any situation. Inexpensive, travels well, last and lasts even between dives. If you take pictures on your trip post them for FREE on www.scubatube.org
Heres a suggestion most people dont try, when getting ready for your dive, fill your mask with the water you will be diving in and place it lens down in the shade, I have not had to use any anti-fog for 75 dives by simply prepping my mask this way and not putting it on a hot dry face
SAVE YOUR MONEY!! Scuba diving magazine rated J&J baby shampoo so close to the most expensive commercial brands as to be nearly the same effectiveness. I have been using the Walmart equate generic tearless shampoo for years now and it works like a champ. I keep it in an old visine bottle which I am yet to refill, and spread a few drops on the lens before the dive while it is dry. When I hit the water, I give the mask a quick rinse. And if I lose it - which will happen eventually - I'm out a few cents.
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