If a mask doesn’t seal tightly against your face, you can expect to have water leaks that limit how long you can snorkel and dive in peace. This problem is exacerbated when you have a small or narrow face and most snorkel masks don’t seem to fit your unique facial structure. Fortunately, there are snorkel masks for small and narrow faces on the market that are ideal for youth and adults with a small face.

In order to have the best seal, you have to get a mask that is suited to your facial structure, and the best snorkel mask for small faces should fit perfectly on smaller individuals. Furthermore, having a small mask is great for travel because of how lightweight and compact they are. Many of these masks are highly versatile and can be used to snorkel or dive for a long time without having to clear water due to their tight seal.

With that said, it can be difficult to know which snorkel masks are designed for small faces, and which are just regular snorkel masks that happened to fit someone with a small face. In this article, we review a selection of the best snorkel masks for narrow faces. We also go over how to find a snorkel mask that fits your face whether it’s small and narrow, and how you can also make an informed decision should you decide to shop on your own.

Our Top Picks:

Best Snorkel Mask for Small Faces Recommendations

Aqua Lung Technisub Micro-Mask

The Aqua Lung Technisub is a very popular mask among deep diving spearfishermen, and of course it’d do well for snorkeling as well. As the name suggests, this mask is very compact and lightweight, with a beautifully simple design. It almost appears to be a frameless mask, though technically it has a hard frame with a soft skirt that seals tightly on small faces.

Next, the Technisub has an extremely low volume, at nearly half of the volume as most of the masks on the market. This design helps keep the lens really close to the face, allowing its area of vision to be very wide. Additionally, the nose piece is easy to squeeze and reach with one hand. The skirt is soft, yet firm enough to seal tightly, though you may expect some lines to form on your face after a few hours.

As for the strap buckle, it is hinged and attached to the frame which aids in getting a good fit, but makes it less space efficient when folded away. If you find this mask fits your face like how many other customers with narrow faces have, then it will be worth the investment.

Pros:

• Extremely low volume makes clearing a breeze.
• Compact and lightweight.
• The nose piece is easy to access for equalizing the pressure.

Cons:

• Can fog up unless you do a defog treatment on it.

Mares X-Vision Mid Mask

The Mares X-Vision Mid Mask combines both excellent field of view with a comfortable fit on most small to medium faces. Experience snorkeling and diving with a mask that you’ll barely even feel it’s there, even if you normally have trouble finding a mask that is suitable for a narrower face.

Part of the reason why the Mares X-Vision is so comfortable is thanks to its hypoallergenic silicone skirt that can conform to the shape of numerous facial shapes, even those with a small or narrow face. The X-Vision provides a wide field of view due to the large single pane window as well as side view windows to expand your peripheral vision.

To further enhance your comfort, use the X-Vision’s easy-adjust buckles which are connected directly to the flexible silicone skirt, rather than the frame, that allows the mask to better conform to your facial structure. Lastly, the X-Vision also comes with a low profile protective case, and who can say no to freebies?

Pros:

• Windows are angled optimally for the widest viewing angle.
• Low internal volume which also keeps the lenses close to your face.
• Conforms to numerous facial sizes, including smaller and narrower faces.
• Easy-adjust buckles connected to the skirt, which provides greater comfort and hydrodynamics.
• Includes a mask box.

Cons:

• Some users noticed slight leaking by the nose bridge. Consider applying mask sealant to fix the issue.

Atomic SubFrame Mask

You know that a mask is durable when the manufacturer offers a lifetime warranty against frame breakage. The Atomic SubFrame Mask is touted as being the most durable, nearly indestructible two-window mask out of all of the masks on the market, with a hefty price tag to boot. What exactly makes it so strong?

For starters, it has an internal frame (a subframe) that is molded below the silicone rubber skirt. This gives it unmatched rigidity and strength, in addition to reducing the bulkiness that an external plastic frame would add. Additionally, the lenses are secured using stainless steel retainer locks which also support the bridge and nose area of the mask.

From the lenses, you can expect a great fit and a wide field of view that lets you see what the underwater world has to offer. It combines style, durability, and function effortlessly in one package. Despite the high price, the lifetime warranty takes away much of the risk, and it is a great choice for snorkelers who want an indestructible mask.

Pros:

• Has a subframe which reduces the bulkiness and increases its durability to be one of the toughest masks on the market.
• Wide field of view and great fit.
• Squeeze to adjust buckles.
• Lifetime warranty for frame breakage.

Cons:

• Expensive.
• Missing the ARC (anti-reflective technology) from the normal-sized version which increases light transmission and decreases reflected light for a crisper view.

Cressi Youth Scuba Diving

While this mask may be marketed to kids, it can also be used by women or any adult who has a small face. Furthermore, Cressi is a well-established brand and you can’t really go wrong with their products. At under $30, the Cressi Youth is mighty tempting. Here are some features to tip you over the edge.

First, the mask is 100% constructed from silicone which is highly durable and also comfortable. In addition, the Cressi Youth is a frameless mask that provides great views and has a low volume. The Cressi Youth is versatile and can be used in the pool or open water for snorkeling, diving, and similar water activities.

Furthermore, the Cressi Youth is easily adjustable with its push-button swivel buckles to keep it secure on your face. Additionally, the single lens design provides an unobstructed view. Constructed of anti-fog tempered glass, the lens is resistant to fogging and is highly durable. And all of this for such an affordable price makes this an excellent choice for snorkelers that have a small face.

Pros:

• Suitable for women, children, or anyone with a small face.
• Competitively priced, highly affordable.
• Provides great views and comfort.
• Single lens made from anti-fog tempered glass.

Cons:

• May still need you to treat it with anti-fog to ensure the lens will not fog up in the water.

Cressi Sub Lince

For all intents and purposes, the Cressi Sub Lince can be seen as a smaller version of the well-reviewed Cressi Matrix, due to its dimensions and volumes. Furthermore, it is designed similarly to Cressi’s Big Eyes, yet another exceptional product from which it takes many features such as its comfortable skirt designed for women and children, as well as unobstructed visibility.

In order to achieve this, the Cressi Sub Lince has very low internal volume, even by the standards of many free diving models, and even veteran free divers can get a sense of satisfaction wearing these. As for materials, the Lince mask is made completely from silicone, and features a hypoallergenic silicone skirt with a tempered glass lens. The result is that it is compact and lightweight.

Additionally, the materials help to provide its extreme comfort and clear visibility, as well as its efficient and modern strap system makes this model a strong contender for diving and snorkeling activities for those with a small face. Since this is Cressi we’re talking about, the price is slightly higher than other masks, however the product you’re getting is going to be quality.

Pros:

• Extremely low internal volume.
• Tempered glass lens with hypoallergenic skirt for more comfort.
• Compact and lightweight.
• Designed for women and children or anyone with a smaller face.

Cons:

• Nose cutout may ride up and cause discomfort on your upper lip area.
• Nose bridge can be tough to pinch.

Bare Duo Compact

It can be tough finding a snug fitting snorkel mask for those with a small face, and Bare understands this which is why they rolled out their Duo Compact mask for women and children. This mask features a double edge skirt that provides a tight seal on the face and keeps water out

Next, on the buckle you’ll find the push-button wide strap that lets you adjust the tightness of the strap on your face. The Bare Duo Compact is essentially a low volume mask with how easy it is to clear and its wide view. This mask features a twin-lens that is made from tempered glass which is durable and long-lasting.

Lastly, the nose pocket is soft and easy to squeeze with just one hand. This lets you easily perform an ear equalization even if you are wearing thick gloves. A solid snorkeling and dive mask for narrow faces.

Pros:

• Double-edge skirt that seals well on narrow faces.
• Easy to adjust push-button wide strap.
• Twin lens offers excellent view and is constructed of tempered glass.
• Has an easy to squeeze nose pocket, can be done one handed with gloves even.

Cons:

• May need to treat it with an anti-fog solution to ensure there won’t be any fogging.

Scubapro Spectra Mini Mask

An ill-fitting mask can ruin a dive, and a person that has a smaller than average face knows this better than anyone. Even among those that have a small face, no two faces are alike. To address this, Scubapro have come out with the Spectra Mini mask that is intended to fit nearly everyone with a narrow face.

To begin, the Spectra Mini has a lower internal profile which can reduce the amount of surface area between the mask and the diver’s face. This is possible thanks to its dual tempered glass lens design, which is resistant to cracks and impacts. With the low volume, should water ever get inside, it is easier to clear than other masks.

Next, the Spectra Mini features a double feathered edge silicone rubber skirt. Its mask strap is designed for comfort and seals tightly due to its wide split style silicone construction. Furthermore, the dual lens on the mask allows wearers to experience the maximum intake of light for the clearest underwater vision possible. Re-pressurizing the mask has also been made easier with the one hand soft nose pocket. The Spectra Mini also includes an adjustable swivel buckle system.

Lastly, not only does the ScubaPro Spectra Mini look great, but it feels great to wear. When you’re out in the water snorkeling or diving, you need gear that is reliable and durable. The Spectra Mini fits that bill for avid water sports lovers that have a narrow face.

Pros:

• Low internal volume.
• Lens is made from dual tempered glass that is very durable.
• Features a double feathered edge silicone rubber skirt that conforms to the face and is comfortable to boot.
• Soft nose pocket makes it easy to equalize the pressure.

Cons:

• Will need to apply some anti-fog treatment.

Tusa M-111 Mini Kleio II

The Tusa M-111 Mini Kleio II is for people with a smaller face that prefer their masks to fit snug. It’s in the medium price range, however it’s worth the money. First, the round-edge skirt is what helps it have such a snug fit and is highly comfortable to boot. The single lens design allows wearers to have a wide panoramic view of the underwater flora and fauna.

Next, the Tusa Mini Kleio II comes with a skirt-mounted buckle system that can be quickly adjusted for the optimal fit. You can expect this mask to fit small and medium faces, which is ideal for youth or female snorkelers. And thanks to its low volume, re-pressurizing is easy and you won’t have to worry about fogging as much.

Pros:

• Round-edge skirt is comfortable and seals well on a narrow face.
• Low volume design keeps the mask close to the face and makes it easy to re-pressurize.
• Single lens design means no mask frame in the middle obstructing your view.

Cons:

• Customers have no complaints!

Oceanic Mini Shadow

If what you want is a high-quality mask and price is not a concern, then consider getting the Oceanic Mini Shadow. What makes it stand out is that it’s a frameless mask with very low volume, capable of folding nearly completely flat.

Since this mask has no frame, it also means that the mask stays close to your face and allows  you to have wide visibility and peripheral vision. It is the perfect companion if you want the best underwater sights or do photography.

Next, the lens is constructed using ultra-clear tempered optical safety glass, and the silicone skirt is made with medical-grade liquid silicone. With how versatile the skirt is, the Mini Shadow should conform to nearly all smaller faces.

Nothing is more irritating than having to stop your snorkeling session and clear your mask every few minutes. The Mini Shadow comes with an easily adjustable strap and buckle that can provide a snug fit, however these can be replaced with third party neoprene straps if you want the most comfort.

Pros:

• Frameless design keeps the mask lightweight and offers one of the widest views.
• Low volume design.
• Easy to adjust swivel buckles.
• Skirt is made from medical grade silicone for comfort and a tight seal.

Cons:

• One of the more expensive masks.
• Straps could be more comfortable.

SEAC Salina MD Mask

The SEAC Salina MD Mask is a very affordable and reliable product from an old and trusted brand. It may not be as mainstream or well-known as some of the other masks out there. But for around $20, it’s hard to beat what this mask is offering.

First, it has a single-lens design with the lens constructed from tempered glass. The skirt construction is specifically designed for smaller and narrower faces. Furthermore, it comes with an easy to adjust buckle system that is handy for tightening the mask and optimizing the fit. Thanks to the strap, you can even share the mask with your kids.

You might be worried about the prominent “SEAC” logo in the middle of the lens. Thankfully, when you’re actually wearing it you won’t notice it at all, nor does it get in the way of your field of vision. Next, the Salina MD comes with a purge valve, so even if there were to be a leak you can easily clear the water by exhaling through the nose. Overall, this is a comfortable mask for narrow faces at a great price.

Pros:

• Provides a tight seal on slim faces.
• Silicone skirt provides a comfortable fit.
• Single tempered glass lens that is durable and offers a wide view.

Cons:

• May be better suited for children, as some customers found it didn’t work so well for them but was excellent for their kids.

Snorkel Mask for Narrow Faces Buying Guide

Do you find yourself spending an inordinate amount of time messing around with your mask instead of enjoying the underwater sights? Unfortunately, if you have a small or narrow face, you’ve probably experienced this more times than normal. That’s why this section aims to provide you with tips on how to find the perfect fitting mask for you.

When you’re snorkeling or scuba diving, you shouldn’t be worrying about whether your mask is going to leak or start fogging up any second. With the right mask and proper treatment, these issues will be a thing of the past. By the time you’re finished reading this page, you’ll have all the knowledge you need to find the best snorkel mask for small faces.

How Should A Mask Fit?

Before you even think about any other factors, the number one most important consideration for a snorkel mask is how well it fits your face. The rubber-like portion of the mask that presses against your face and forms a watertight seal is known as the ‘skirt’. If the skirt has a strong seal, it will prevent common problems such as fogging, leaking, fatigue.

If your mask leaks, then either something is wrong with the skirt, or else the mask isn’t suited for your facial structure. People with small or narrow faces may find it difficult to get their mask to form a tight seal on their face. As a result, water slowly leaks through the skirt and gets in your eyes. In the worst case scenario, the mask can be so uncomfortable as to be painful.

Additionally, with an ill-fitting mask, you’ll have to waste precious time and energy treading water as you try to fix your mask problems. Treading water vertically is more tiring than doing it horizontally, so you are depleting your energy faster. Clearing the water also introduces a secondary problem.

By breaking the seal on your face, you will cause the mask to fog by allowing moist air to enter the mask, condensing against the cold on the surface of the lens. The more air that enters, the more moisture available to condense on your lens, resulting in fogging.

Next, never purchase a mask just because it looks fancy, has a high price tag, or is the “latest and most advanced” mask available. It can have all of the fancy features in the world, but none of that matters if it doesn’t fit your face properly.

How to Find a Properly Fitting Mask

The goal is to find a mask that is comfortable and seals against your face so well, you forget it’s even there when snorkeling. Everyone’s facial structure is unique, and yours might be smaller or narrower than most people’s. It is therefore hard to recommend a single mask as the “best” since that mask with over a thousand 5-star ratings might not fit on your face. Therefore, for each mask, try the following steps to see how well it fits.

Test the Skirt

When trying on a mask, stop breathing for a moment and place the mask against your face, making sure to press it lightly with your hand. Do not use the strap yet. Next, keep holding your breath but stop supporting the mask with your hand.

A mask that fits well should still remain on your face without you inhaling or holding it in place. During this test, it is important not to inhale because that creates suction. You can make nearly any mask stick to your face if you inhale through your nostrils hard enough, which defeats the purpose of this test.

Masks with skirts that seal tightly against your face are significantly less likely to let water through when you are snorkeling and moving your head through water. This quick test is easy to do and can help you determine if a mask will leak without even using it in water. If any mask fails this test, just move on to the next one.

Test the Strap

Moving on, we’re going to test the strap. A well-fitting mask should feel comfortable. It should stay on your face with relative ease, and you shouldn’t have to tighten the strap until it digs into your head. Only tighten the strap enough so that the mask will not shift even when you’re turning your head. The skirt should provide the majority of the seal for the mask, not the strap.

Dealing with Hair

The seal that the skirt provides can get compromised if strands of hair get in the way. People with long hair or facial hair often come across this issue. Dealing with facial hair can be a bit tricky, but there are ways to get a stronger seal with mustaches and beards. Worst case scenario, you might have to shave off a bit of the mustache.

It is difficult to deal with hair that’s caught under the skirt of the mask as you’re treading water. It’s also a waste of energy, so let’s try to keep this from happening. Before putting on the mask, wet your hair and slick it back. Now put on the mask, making sure to run your finger along the skirt to move any strands of hair out of the way.

Additional Snorkel Mask Considerations

Now that you’ve found a mask or two that fits, then we can finally start to consider other features that you may want. Just keep in mind that while having extra features are nice, all of the features below are secondary to getting a mask that properly fits your face.

• A Wide Skirt: As you’re shopping for a mask, pay extra attention to the edge of the skirt. Remember, that’s the silicone or rubber portion that will seal against your face. They come in various widths, and you want one that’s wide. For the most part, the more of the skirt that touches your skin, the better the chance of a watertight seal.

• Materials: If you’re going to buy a mask for yourself, make sure the skirt is made of silicone. Silicone will last for years and years, whereas rubber will degrade and crack over time.

• Peripheral Visibility: While keeping your head still and with the mask on, move your eyes in all directions to check out how much peripheral vision you have. Some masks will make you feel tunnel-visioned. Others are reminiscent of looking out of a picture window. Whatever the case, I’m sure you’d rather have a mask that gives you the widest field of view.

• No fog lens: Many brands advertise that their masks come with “no fog” lenses. This is a bit of a stretch, as no mask lenses are completely fog-free, and more like low fog, which doesn’t sound as good for marketing purposes. Even if you purchase a no fog mask, expect to treat your mask lenses yourself to ensure they remain crystal clear.

• Vision Enhancing Coatings: Some lenses are designed to improve underwater clarity during subpar light conditions. That almost makes you sound like you’re a Navy SEAL or something. But how this works is that a special tinting on the lenses makes the images sharper and clearer by reducing glare and filtering specific wavelengths of incoming light. The end result is that you can see slightly better underwater. Very few masks have this and it’s not that important, though it should be mentioned just for the record.

• Low Volume: You should get a low volume snorkeling mask. Why? Well, if you plan on freediving at all, you should know that the deeper you dive the more pressure there is in the mask. And the more pressure there is, the more you have to exhale through your nose to equalize the pressure in your mask. Low volume masks are designed such that the lens is as close to your face as possible, lowering the air volume inside. With less air volume, you don’t have to exhale as much, letting you save your breath. Furthermore, the less you exhale, the lower the likelihood of your lenses fogging up.

How to Keep Your Small Snorkel Mask from Fogging

Since you’ll be wearing a smaller snorkel mask, it will have a lower volume than other snorkel masks which will make it less likely to fog as we explained above. However, let’s not rely on luck and figure out how definitively prevent a snorkel mask from fogging.

Make Sure the Mask Fits

Hopefully we’ve successfully drilled this into your head by now, unless you’ve been skipping some of the sections above. If so, we recommend you read the “How to Find a Properly Fitting Mask” section again. But essentially, you don’t want water to enter, forcing you to take off your mask to clear it.

Try Not To Take Off Your Mask

The rule of thumb is that once you put on your mask, you should leave it on for as long as you can. Taking off your mask introduces new moist air, and this moisture condenses on your lens resulting in fogging. For the same reason, try not to exhale through your nose too much. Only do what is necessary to re-pressurize the mask (see our section on Low Volume for more details) and no more.

Use Mask Defog

Mask Defog is any product or substance that you can use on the inside of your mask lens to prevent condensation, which keeps it from fogging up. Snorkel mask defogging solutions are relatively cheap and work well. They are also widely available at any dive shop and can be ordered online as well.

If you don’t have mask defog with you, a quick and dirty way is to use your spit to clean your lenses. Make sure to rinse it off after and shake off as much water as you can. Dry it with a towel if possible to remove as much moisture as you can. Even with mask defog, you have to keep in mind not to take off your mask once you put it on.

Pro Tip: If you feel like the defog solutions offered in your dive shops are too expensive for your liking, you can try using a car windshield cleaner. These should be available in all automotive supply stores, or even at the nearest gas station or Walmart. It should be packaged in a squirt bottle which makes it super convenient to apply to your snorkel mask lens. Windshield cleaner is incredibly cheap and a bottle lasts about a year. Just squirt the product on the mask lens, rub it around with a towel (don’t use your fingers because the oil on your fingertips can transfer to the mask lens), rinse the excess solution with water, and dry again before putting it on.

You’ll be amazed at how effectively these simple steps can prevent fogging and enhance your snorkeling experience.

Parting Words

Regardless of your facial structure, whether you have a small or narrow face, or a large and wide face, as long as you know how to test a mask to see how well it fits you, it is only a matter of time until you find the perfect one for your face. We highly recommend you purchase a mask for yourself instead of renting, particularly if you have a narrow face because their mask selection may not fit for you. You will end up wasting a lot of time each trip just trying out different masks.

It is better to do any trial and error right now and find a good “mini” mask for you. In this article, we reviewed the 10 best snorkel masks for small faces currently on the market to give you a good starting point. We personally recommend sticking with a trusted brand, such as Cressi or Atomic Aquatics. However, there are also a few surprising budget options for lesser known brands that can serve you well for the price.

Once you finally get a mask that fits comfortably on your face and doesn’t leak, you will be glad you spent the time doing the research. Since these masks can last for years, we recommend you treat it as a long-term investment and don’t be afraid to pay a bit more for a high-quality mask.

Men with facial hair who also love snorkeling and diving face a pesky dilemma.

You see, a beard and mustache can get in the way of a tight seal when wearing a dive or snorkel mask. If the mask does not properly fit on your face, then water will slowly seep inside and force you to clear your mask every few minutes.

And that’s just something that you cannot abide by, nor is clean shaving your face an option. So what can you do to solve this problem?

The first solution is to apply mask sealer where the mask skirt touches your facial hair to close up any gaps. The second option is to shave a few millimeters from the top of your mustache so that the mask can seal on your bare skin. The third is to use one of the recommended snorkel or dive masks that fellow bearded people have successfully used to snorkel without water seeping in.

In this article we provide a few potential solutions for creating a tighter seal, as well as give our recommendations on the best snorkel mask for beards and mustaches.

Our Top Picks:

How to Prevent Water from Entering Your Snorkel Mask

You may have heard of people rubbing Vaseline along the skirt of the mask and facial hair to create a tighter seal. They have the right idea, but the petroleum found in Vaseline will eat away at the mask skirt. Instead, you should consider using the following:

• Silicone Grease
• Burt’s Bees Lip Balm/Chapstick
• Mustache Sealer
• Wax Hair Products

Now, completely shaving your facial hair is not an option. But we’re going to cheat a little bit and recommend that you shave a small section at the top of your mustache that is approximately an eighth of an inch to half an inch below your nose. This is where the skirt of traditional snorkel masks would contact against your skin and shaving only that area could solve all of your leaking problems. Otherwise you can try your luck with the sealants recommended above, and even then that may not be enough to provide a tight seal.

Can You Wear a Full Face Snorkel Mask with a Beard?

It gets a bit more complicated if you plan on wearing a full face snorkel mask with a big, bushy beard. We recommend you check out this video to get some great tips:

We really recommend you watch the whole thing, but here is a summary of the main talking points of this video:

• Get a dive hood which can get your beard under control before wearing your mask.
• You will probably have to try out different masks to get the optimal fit, because everybody’s face is shaped differently.
• Shave only the areas of your face that the mask skirt will touch (you don’t have to shave everything off!).
• If you don’t want to shave at all, use wax or Chapstick to seal areas where the mask skirt touches your facial hair, but this is not an optimal solution if you have a lot of hair.

If you’re still wondering if you should snorkel with a beard, then check out this article for additional tips. If you only have a mustache, you should consider using a full face mask instead. You can learn more about full face masks by reading this article.

Best Snorkel Mask for Beards Review

Now that you know how to prevent water from seeping into your mask, let’s go over some dive masks that numerous bearded divers and snorkelers have successfully used without issue. Keep in mind, even though customers found success with these products, we have to remind you that everybody’s face is shaped differently and what worked for one person may not work for you.

Hollis M1 Frameless Scuba Diving Mask

The Hollis M1 is a great mask in terms of quality and cost. It features a frameless design that is typically more comfortable that framed masks. It also offers a wider field of vision due to less material obstructing your sightlines. The rigid silicone melding and silicone skirt surrounding the lens allow the Hollis M1 to be frameless, reducing its overall size.

The lens is a Saint-Gobain Diamant Crystal Clear lens, which many people believe provides some of the clearest and crisp views possible. The silicone black skirt also improves your view, since it blocks out light from the sides and there will not be light around the side of the lens to distract your eyes.

Included with the Hollis M1 is a travel bag and case. You can place the mask in these two accessories to protect it from scratches, which would ruin your views when snorkeling or diving. Some people found this mask can sometimes have a fogging issue. You can fix this by cleaning it with toothpaste or burning off the coating on the mask with a lighter.

Pros:

• Excellent value mid-range mask
• Frameless design, less bulky than framed masks
• Wide field of vision
• Comes with a travel bag and case

Cons:

• Mask can fog up
• Can seal too tightly around your nose pocket area

Atomic Aquatics Venom Frameless Mask

The Atomic Aquatics Venom Frameless Mask is a high-end mask by a reputable maker of scuba diving equipment. It is extremely comfortable thanks to its frameless mask features and silicone skirt. The blended silicone skirt is designed to prevent leaks even for bearded folks. Whether you have a mustache, beard, scars or anything on your face, the seal should be skin tight.

The lens on the Venom is reported to transmit up to 96% of light, compared to other masks that are around the 80% range. This makes a big difference in terms of how clearly you can see what you see underwater. Furthermore, the field of view is quite wide, so even your peripheral vision can be used when looking at your surroundings.

Wearing this mask is further simplified by the strap and adjusters, which will give you the ideal fit in mere seconds without needing to fumble around with it for a long time. Like the Holly M1, fogging can sometimes be an issue. You may have to perform some de-fog treatments, but afterwards it will be a near-perfect mask.

Pros:

• Comfortable thanks to its specialized silicone skirt
• Frameless design is soft and wraps around your whole face
• Has a tight seal, even for people with facial hair
• Allows more light in compared to other masks, increasing what you can see underwater

Cons:

• May have some fogging issues
• Not available with an anti-reflective coating, but the mask is so clear that this should be a minor issue

ScubaPro Synergy 2 Mask

The ScubaPro Synergy 2 Mask is great for people with beards thanks to its unique two-skirt system. The flexible skirts fit tightly against your face, with the outer skirt providing additional support and rigidity. Combined, they provide superior comfort and resistance to leaking compared to other masks.

People with facial hair often have to wear the masks extremely tightly on their face, causing a red ring to form once they take it off. You will not have this issue with the ScubaPro Synergy 2, thanks to how comfortable it is. When underwater, you will have good visibility and less eye-strain due to its due lens design. If you have a beard or mustache and want a solid mask, you can’t go wrong with this one.

Pros:

• Two-skirt system provides an excellent seal and less discomfort
• Provides excellent visibility
• Dual lens design

Cons:

• Some customers felt the mask was a bit small around the nose pocket.

ScubaPro Crystal Vu Plus with Purge

Thanks to its purge valve, high durability, and seamless view, the Scubapro Crystal Vu Plus mask is a great mask in general, and even better for snorkelers with facial hair.

To begin, the Crystal Vu Plus has a single lens viewing system, which is preferable to a split compartment or dual lens system, because they rarely fog up and drain water faster. Furthermore, the single lens provides a more precise, unobstructed view underwater.

With its purge valve, the ScubaPro Crystal Vu Plus is easy to clear and rarely fogs up. Should water enter the mask because the mask didn’t seal properly around your beard or mustache, simply exhale air through your nose to clear the water. Yes, literally just breathe out through your nose and the water is vented out. With said, the purge valve can fit a little tight around the nose, which may feel slightly uncomfortable for some people.

Another feature of this mask are the side viewing windows, which provide excellent peripheral vision in the water. Lastly, we wouldn’t be recommending this mask if it didn’t have an excellent seal which should allow it to fit snug and tight on your face, even with facial hair. Additionally, it can be adjusted even further for a tighter fit.

Pros:

• Purge-valve is incredibly easy to use.
• Adjustable fit.
• Panoramic view thanks to single lens system.
• Excellent silicone seal prevents leaks.

Cons:

• For some, the purge valve pushes against their nose.

ScubaPro Solo Snorkeling Mask

If you are looking for the most comfortable and best fitting snorkeling mask for mustaches, the ScubaPro Solo might be it. The double sealed silicone skirt conforms to nearly every face, including bearded ones, giving you a leak-free seal.

The ScubaPro Solo features a frameless, single tempered glass lens that is specifically designed to provide the widest field of view. In addition, its hydrodynamic design reduces drag in the water. Because of how close it sits to your face, the ScubaPro Solo has a low volume fit and easy clearing.

Other notable features include a wide-split style, non-slip strap with adjustable buckles, a clear silicone skirt that comes with double-feathered edge sealing that is effective even against facial hair, and a nose-pocket that allows you to pinch your nose to clear.

The reason why we’ve recommended so many ScubaPro products is because they are one of the most established brands in scuba and snorkel gear and their name is synonymous with durability and quality. The ScubaPro Solo is no exception, and at its premium price of around $100 USD at the time of writing, you should only expect the best.

Pros:

• Single lens design provides a wide field of view.
• Silicone skirt with double-feathered edge sealing means a leak-free seal even on facial hair.
• Strap is easily adjustable and allows for a good seal.
• Nose-pocket allows you to pinch your nose underwater.

Cons:

• Expensive.
• Nose-pocket is small.

Cressi Panoramic 4

The Cressi Pano 4 features a 4-lens design that provides extra light translation and peripheral vision over many other masks. The Pano 4 also has two front lenses, like a set of goggles. They’re attached in the middle by a seam, but in such a way that it is barely noticeable.

Additionally, there are two smaller, side lenses that run parallel to the sides of your head. Personally, we like how it is positioned and its squared-off shape, since it provides the truest perspective on the surroundings. Other models feature curved lenses which tend to give off a fish-eye view.

Additionally, the 4 lenses combined give significantly more peripheral vision than other similar masks, like the Cressi F1 or Kraken Aquatics. We feel it also lets in more light, giving you the sense that it is open and unrestricted. Rather than looking through a window, it feels like you’re actually part of it.

Furthermore, the Pano 4’s silicone skirt provides a comfortable and secure seal, and the frame has a lightweight, low-volume design. With that said, the Pano 4 lenses aren’t fog-free out of the box. You will have to treat the lenses yourself to address any fogging problems. Also, some users didn’t like the split-lens design, though most preferred the split-corner design. Overall, the Pano 4 is a great mask for recreational snorkelers who want a wide panoramic view.

Pros:

• Great panoramic view thanks to its 4-lens design.
• Lenses are made from durable tempered glass.
• Water-tight seal even for smaller-framed faces.

Cons:

• Lenses require treatment to address fogging issues.
• Some users did not like the split-lens design.
• The frame is slightly bulky.

Cressi Matrix

The Cress Matrix is a compact mask with one of the best size and view ratio we’ve seen so far. It utilizes its size to the fullest, using almost all of its surface area to provide a wide, unobstructed view of your surroundings. Whereas other snorkel masks would take up a lot of space due to the frame or skirt, this patented Cressi design provides exceptional downward visibility.

Furthermore, both lenses curve inwards, allowing them to sit closer to one’s eyes and increases peripheral vision by 30%. When you’re in the water, you will barely even notice the edges of the mask in your field of vision. Since this is Cressi’s patented design, you’ll only find angled lenses like these on Cressi products.

The edges and skirt of the Matrix have been improved to provide a superior seal, besting even the Pano 4. Specifically, it has been designed with a rubber grip and wide seal strip to fit more securely and snugly on your head without compromising on comfort.

Unfortunately, the Cressi Matrix is a bit on the pricier side. Also, users with smaller faces had trouble getting a tight seal, and water can sometimes trickle in. If you have a small face, then this is probably not the product for you.

Pros:

• Patented Cressi design provides incredible peripheral vision.
• Made from tempered glass and silicone.
• One of the lowest-volume options on the market.
• Has a 2-year warranty.

Cons:

• Pricey.
• Does not seal well on small faces.

Oceanic Shadow Frameless Dive Mask

Oceanic has been around since the 70s and has formed a reputation for making high quality scuba diving and snorkeling masks. The Oceanic Shadow is a low volume frameless mask that can fold almost completely flat. If you want to bring a spare mask, this could easily fit in your BC pocket.

The low volume, frameless design helps keep the mask close to your face and provides excellent peripheral vision and visibility. You could even use it for photography or spear fishing.

Next, the Oceanic Shadow has a skirt that is made from medical-grade silicone, and the lens is made from a tempered optical safety glass. The skirt will conform to many facial sizes and shapes, including ones with facial hair, and provide a tight seal. Having to clear your mask all of the time while diving is annoying, so a mask that provides a tight seal is critical.

Lastly, the Oceanic Shadow has an easy to adjust, comfortable buckle and strap that can make the mask seal even tighter against your face.

Pros:

• Low profile and allows for excellent peripheral vision and visibility.
• The silicone skirt fits most faces; many reviewers praised how well it kept water from seeping in and not having to clear their masks.
• Comfortable strap.
• Frameless and light-blocking.

Cons:

• A few users found that the mask strap fell apart after about a dozen dives. However, others have been on many more without this issue, so it seems like it was just faulty straps.

Cressi Big Eyes Evolution

If the name isn’t clear enough, the Cressi Big Eyes Evolution has great visibility. Its teardrop shaped lens lets in an abundance of light and the tempered glass lenses provide great optical clarity. All of this is also possible because the lens sits close to your face, providing an ample lower field of view to look at your equipment or aquatic life.

There’s more to this mask than its visibility. Its skirt has what Cressi calls a “high seal”, which is a medical grade silicone that is flexible, soft, and very importantly, comfortable. As with all of the masks recommended in this review, the seal should fit tight against a wide range of faces, including bearded ones, and keep water out.

Even after numerous dives, the mask will remain comfortable and not leave any red marks against your face. Furthermore, the Cressi Big Eyes Evolution does not need to be tightened so much, other than what is needed to just stay on your face. The buckle system is designed to only pull the skirt back, and not the entire mask, giving you a better fit without putting undue stress on your face.

Overall, the Cressi Big Eyes Evolution is an inexpensive mask that is excellent for beginners and, of course, people with facial hair.

Pros:

• Excellent visibility with tempered glass lens.
• Low volume, sits close to face and lets you look down.
• High-seal medical grade silicone skirt provides a tight seal.

Cons:

• Nose pocket is somewhat small, not suitable for big noses.

The Bottom Line

So, there you have it. It is possible to snorkel with a beard on, if you are willing to put in some extra effort. Unfortunately, the methods described in this article are not entirely fool-proof, and may be somewhat cumbersome. Having to shave off the top part of your mustache, for instance, may not be something you’d want to do.

You also might not want to wear a dive hood as it can be uncomfortable having to adjust your beard so that it fits without feeling like your beard is going to get torn off. Applying wax or Chapstick on the areas where the mask touches your beard may help provide a better seal, but if you have too much hair then it will not be effective either.

However, the beard is something that is sacred to men. Shaving it off makes you feel like you are a prepubescent boy again, and not a man. Without a beard, you feel like a crucial part of you is gone. So it is understandable the lengths we are willing to go through to keep our beards even while snorkeling.

When common wisdom says you have to shave your beard in order to snorkel, well, you shouldn’t just agree to it without a fight. And with the tips in this guide, you can (probably) keep on snorkeling or scuba diving with your face covered in a glorious beard.

Further Reading

If water leaks are still a problem even after following this guide, then perhaps you should look into getting a scuba and snorkel mask with purge valve. Purge valves are a one-way valve that forces water out every time you exhale. This may solve the issue of leaks caused by facial hair, since the water will be vented out as you breathe.

Furthermore, you may be interested in snorkeling in colder water, and for that we recommend looking into wearing a rash guard or even a wetsuit for snorkeling to keep you insulated. If you are struggling to stay afloat in the water, consider wearing a flotation belt, life vest or life jacket so that you can conserve energy and stay safe in the water.

Additional Snorkeling Gear Guides:

• Water Socks for Snorkeling
• Water Shoes for Snorkeling
• Prescription Snorkel Masks for Glasses Wearers
• How Does Snorkeling Work?