****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
To he honest, I'm not even sure if this is a genuine mask. I couldn't find any store that carries this mask with the "every dive" mask strap in place of the shark mask strap. Not something I am willing to chance on a dive. I tried the regular & mini but neither gave me a good seal so I returned them. I also felt that they were both pretty heavy. So just not comfortable for me. Attached are a few pics comparing the mini & regular.Couldnt ask for a better mask! Comfortable and dependable. I trust oceanic with my life!I recently fell head over heels in love with diving and quickly decided it was so much so what I wanted to do with my life that I am working on a plan to combine my current profession and scuba into a new type of business. However even as a newbie diver I know better than buying scuba gear online before you test it out IRL. Especially for me, the mask is just as important as the bigger safety gear because not only are leaky masks annoying and uncomfortable but they also cause me anxiety. So I went to my local dive shop and tried on masks.. I was torn between the Mares i3 and the Shadow as they both fit my face and offered different advantages. I dive mainly in warm waters so of course the shadows solid skirt helps to reduce glare. It is also very low profile which makes it easy to clear & lets be real, the color is to die for (and matches my teal Atomic X1 fins PERFECTLY). However I decided to buy the Mares i3 at the shop as with its 3 lenses legit your only blind spot is behind you (my dive buddy & I joked that I need to add bike mirrors to fix this lol). So I ultimately felt the i3 would be best for training/learning purposes and also to help me get my bearings underwater as sometimes I lag a little behind the group caught up on some sea creature or coral and then (thanks to normal mask tunnel-esque vision) I look up again and I'm a little turned around especially when everyone looks almost identical in wetsuits. Although I will admit deep down I wanted the Oceanic Shadow so bad but was already spending more money on gear than I have really. So a few hours later, I decided to see if I could find the Shadow online which led me to realize this is a 'limited edition' color and that got me good! I scoured the internet trying to find a seller of the limited edition colors and thank you House of Scuba for having them in stock!Furthermore, if you are adamant on buying a mask online then hopefully this can help a bit... I always thought I had a small-ish face but trying on masks made me quickly realize that is not the case. I would now say my head is of a normal size with my face being oval (currently I've put on some extra weight so this would definitely factor into my face chubby-ness). The regular size shadow fits perfectly, I honestly don't even know what would be considered a 'mini' because I feel like this one is plenty small in itself (definitely smaller than the Mares i3).Outstanding quality. Top of the line brand and it stands up to its name.I tried every mask out there. I went to several stores without success. Aqua lung, tusa, scuba pro, atomic, no- Names, Cressi etc. All leaked, mainly from the top somewhere. Some instantly leak, some slow and sneaky after being under water for a few minutes. I was desperate. One store accused me I am breathing out, but I had a mask that fit for many years (Mares youth size) and I have been scuba diving for years so I think I know how to breathe and that you can dive without constant water in your mask (at one point they tell you that every mask leaks).Long story short, I ordered the regular and mini. I read that the standard fit most people and is artsy kind of small. I don’t consider my face tiny or extremely narrow but regular didn’t stay on for one second. No suction. The mini is slightly narrow and tight (after all it is a mini), but it’s almost impossible to get off my face. It has extreme suction, great vision and no water leak! I have not been to the ocean with it, only the pool, But very promising. it is kind of comfortable and fogging seems to be not too bad (still need to clean it). And the color is cute (got the sea green or whatever it is called).My recommendation if you have issues finding a mask as a female, give the mini a try.Update: took it to the ocean the first time. I cleaned at least 6-7 times with soft scrub and toothpaste, just to be sure. No fogging issues, comfortable and no leaks! I am super happy with the mini.I went to a dive shop to try on different types of masks and found this one to fit my face really well. I like the single lens mask design, it seems to provide me with a wider field of view. I don't have an issue with this hitting the bridge of my nose, but I do have Asian facial features. The color is perfect! I had the option of purchasing this mask for a much cheaper cost in black or clear, but I always have trouble finding people when underwater. I prefer a mask like this that stands out so I can tell who is who in pictures.The mask folds up small and comes with a neoprene sleeve already. This makes it perfect for people with long hair! Much less hair gets yanked out between dives. The buckles are a little bit different than what I usually see, but once adjusted to fit you, there should be no reason to have to go back to make any adjustments underwater. I could see how the buckles would be difficult to adjust on the fly.was so excited for the mask after reading reviews... but even the mini is really big and leaksLet's talk about the color--it's gorgeous! It matches my fins and snorkel, so that's why I went with it over a different brand. Plus, it stands out--no guessing which black mask is yours if you set it down. I originally bought the regular, not the mini, but it was too large for my face, so it couldn't get a good seal and basically made me feel like I was drowning. Not a great feeling for someone just getting into scuba. This one though--absolute perfection! Definitely recommend for a female or anyone with a smaller face!
