Full Snorkelling Masks vs Regular Snorkelling Masks

When it comes to purchasing a mask, you want to choose something that you feel comfortable and relaxed in. Choosing the right snorkelling mask is one of the first things you should be making when starting your snorkelling journey. After all, your snorkel mask is the piece of equipment you’ll use to view and discover the underwater world. In which case, you need to ensure that the mask you buy is the right snorkelling mask to take you on that journey.

When choosing a snorkelling mask, you need to find one that suits your needs, fits comfortably on your face and keeps you relaxed throughout your snorkelling venture so you can experience an enjoyable adventure.

With an ever-expanding range coming into the snorkelling industry, there are plenty of options to choose from. Within your quest to find the right mask, you may have come across two variations of masks, which are the full face snorkelling mask and the regular snorkelling mask.

With both types of snorkelling masks holding lots of appealing qualities, it can be hard to figure out which snorkelling mask will work best for you. Within this blog, you’ll discover the difference between the two masks, along with their qualities, which will help you to make an informed decision on which type of snorkelling mask will work best for you.

Full Face Snorkelling Mask vs Regular: What’s The difference?

First off, let’s define the difference between the two types of snorkelling masks so you can make an informed decision as to which mask you may find more useful and comfortable when you're snorkelling.

Full face snorkelling mask: Basically, it does what it says on the tin. The full snorkelling mask is a mask that covers your whole face, which includes your forehead and chin. The full mask allows you to breathe using the one-way valve located at the top of the mask, which keeps unwanted water from finding its way into the mask while still allowing you to breathe with ease.

Regular mask: Split into two parts, the regular mask covers your eyes and nose. You’ll need to purchase a separate mouthpiece to be able to breathe while looking down into the water.

Pros and Cons of The Full Face Snorkelling Mask

The full face snorkelling mask has recently become quite popular among snorkelers, and there’s no wonder why!

The mask that covers the whole face and is integrated into one system, what’s not to love about this compact system? The full face mask is perfect for beginners who want to slip on the mask and jump into the water without the fuss of setting up a mask and mouthpiece. With a full face mask, you can breathe easy as you would above water by breathing through your nose or mouth with ease.

Did we also mention that most full face masks offer a further panoramic view? Full masks offer an average 20% larger viewing area compared to traditional snorkel masks. So there’s no need to edge your head to the side when you see a sea creature swimming past you.

However, if you’re an active snorkeller or someone who wants to partake in many snorkelling adventures, this may not be the mask for you. Due to the design of the full snorkelling mask, it’s only suitable for low-impact surface swimming. So if you like to duck dive or want to swim below the surface to discover the sea creatures below the waves, this may not be the design for you.

If you love travelling and want to take your snorkelling mask everywhere, this mask might take up a larger space in your suitcase as they’re bigger than your regular snorkelling mask.

In conclusion, if you’re a beginner snorkeler who wants to enter into the ocean world from above, then the full face snorkelling mask might just be the perfect option for you.

Pros and Cons of the Regular Snorkelling Mask

Pros and Cons of The Regular Snorkelling Mask

Now let’s talk about the traditional old-trustee mask - the regular snorkelling mask. The regular snorkelling mask isn’t just great for snorkelling, but can also be used for freediving and diving. It’s a 3-in-1 bonus!

One of the favoured things about having a regular mask is that you can pretty much take it anywhere as it’s highly travel-friendly. Able to easily fit into your suitcase without it taking up too much room, it’s perfect for those who love to travel.

While regular masks are travel friendly and used for many different types of water activities, there is more of a learning curve to using regular masks. As regular masks are a two-piece set, you will have to learn a new style of breathing through a separate mouthpiece, which can be difficult for beginners.

In conclusion, if you’re looking for a more active experience and want to dive a little deeper and interact with ocean life, then the regular face mask might just be the winner for you.