#7880
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Triggerfish hit it right on the nose. The mask material will be key in comfort and your ease of clearing.
http://www.leisurepro.com/Prod/MRSMXL.html?Search=op%3ddtSearch%26Term%3dliquidskin%26SearchFlag%3dall%26AdvSrchSortField%3dRelevance%26DescSort%3d0%26Description%3don%26Hit%3d1
The Liquid Skin mask from Mares is a soft skirt with a hybrid material for a higher degree of comfort. I personally never use and always recommend against a purge valve. Sand, sunscreen, and/or salt crystals have the ability to make the purge valve "stick" in the open position causing a mask to flood rather than drain. Many manufacturers give me masks and I think I have 12 currently in the new mask chest. I have two Liquid Skins and those have pretty much taken over my daily mask chore.
If the skirt is soft and you practice a quick blow out with a minimal lift technique (mimics what you probably already do with your purge mask) then you can drain the mask much faster without a purge valve. Think about it, a little bit of pressure with three finger tips in the top center of your mask frame will cause a release of pressure on the skirt under your nose. When you blow out of your nose at the same time any water in the mask will flush right out the bottom - the largest purge valve you could ever find! When you release the slight pressure with your fingers the soft skirt will mold back to your face and all is right with the world. The only mask that comes close to the Mares Liquid Skin is made by Cressi. Though that one was a prototype when I tested it so I’m not sure if it’s on store shelves yet. It was supposed to be shipping by May 2009 so you might find one.
The Liquid Skin is not cheap but LeisurePro does offer a fair price on it. I know two other stores that are about the same price and then most other LDS’ are in the $135 range for this mask. It is a worthwhile investment but try to borrow one first to make sure you can use it. Better yet, borrow one and play in a pool with a DM/Inst you trust to go through some mask drills for an hour. See what you think. If you are going to be in the Keys the last two weeks of June I’ll hook you up with a loaner. I’ll be in NJ at the end of this week but sadly my gear stayed in GA when I finished my last set of dives - I meet back up with my gear on June 16. :)
Danny
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