Black masks

[AndyA]

I was looking at masks at the dive show and a couple that took my fancy were black frame/skirt. Now I know that in DIR/GUE circles then black seems to be the choice and theres probably a reason for it, so Im wondering what the benefits / disadvantages are of black over a normal clear skirt mask.

[Michael Purcell]

As a warm water/great viz diver these days I can tell you I actually do notice quite a difference between my light mask skirt and my black one. When I use my black mask I get less light bouncing around which is a good thing.

I would tend to think on murky UK dives any additional light might be welcomed. My GUE instructor likes the black mask in the cave as again you don't have that scattered light.

So is it a gimmick...probably... in so much I wouldn't switch my mask, but as my clear is my backup mask I do notice the difference during drills.

[Nigel Hewitt]

I have both.
I think I notice the difference for the first 30 seconds after I put one on.

[Maria CM]

I was told the best reason for having a black skirt is that the muck doesn't show!

best wishes,

Maria

[ChristianG]

If you are using a Single Lens Reflex Camera (whether dSLR or not) underwater you protect, to at least some extent, the light entering the lens via the viewfinder by that black skirt.

Unless I miss my guess, that's still the case.

[Richard Whitcombe]

My light skirt X-vision i actually had a problem with glare and reflection due to bright light shallow in the red sea.
Obviously not an issue in the UK though.

[johnyhog]

Reading thru some dir/gue stuff i saw somewhere it mentioned that you would see light signal/waving torch from buddy better with black skirt, I like a lot of the dir stuff but that didn't seem to make sense. I have side windows in my mask and although weird at first my field of vision is huge due to the refraction, can almost see right behind me. Downside is i suppose a lot more air volume in mask. :)

[Woz]

The main reason for me is that clear silicone goes wee-yellow as it ages and shows up all the gunk. Black doesn't.

[garethwoodruff]

Upside - they look cool

Downside - you look like batman

[John Bantin]

If you are using a Single Lens Reflex Camera (whether dSLR or not) underwater you protect, to at least some extent, the light entering the lens via the viewfinder by that black skirt.

Unless I miss my guess, that's still the case.

I don't often lock the mirror up when taking pictures underwater!
When the mirror flips up it blocks any light from the eyepiece before the shutter fires.

The human brain is a marvelous thing. After trying lots of masks side-by-side, we decided that you soon adapt to what you are wearing.

[johnyhog]

hey, take that back. batman is cool(ish):cool: .When I started diving all masks were black with one big round window. oops lying again i'm only 40, just.

[DRW]

>all masks were black with one big round window<

When I started back in the 1960s, masks were generally oval (not round unless they were snorkel masks which also covered the mouth) and although most had black skirts, some were blue, orange or yellow skirted. The yellow-skirted ones were made from yellow rubber, not clear silicone that had discoloured, unless the wearer had allergies.

Nowadays, it's still possible to get masks with skirts other than black or clear, e.g. the Mexican-made mask below:
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