One of the hardest or easiest things to do is dive with a beard or a mustache. I say it that way because, like most things, if you practice doing it, you will get better. There are a few things you can do that are going to help when diving with facial hair. I am going to cover some of the gear and other tricks and also repost a video that I found, and I think they are good.
First, you need to have the right mask. Depending on the size of your face and facial hair will help determine the mask you need. But honestly, you should still be able to use the same mask you always have unless you have gone full bigfoot. Here are a few of the better masks out there for dive with hair.
I have tried to pick low volume masks that are good for combat swimmer operations.
The SCUBAPRO Synergy 2 Mask is excellent for people with beards because of 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. When people are diving, and their mask starts to leak, the first thing you try and do to fix it is to pull it tighter, and if that doesn’t work you pull it tighter again, if this isn’t working, you do it again. If no matter what you do, your mask keeps leaking, try losing it up a little, when it is tight the mask will get ripples, like if you were to put a rubber band over your shirt sleeve. The Synergy 2 mask is suitable for people with a smaller face. If you have a beard or mustache and want a solid mask, you can’t go wrong with this one.
If you are looking for a mask that is good for beards and mustaches, the SCUBAPRO Solo is a good fit. The double-sealed silicone skirt conforms to almost every face, giving you an excellent leak-free seal. The SCUBAPRO Solo features a frameless, single tempered glass lens that is specifically designed to provide a wide field of view. Because of how close it sits to your face, the Solo has a low volume fit and easy clearing. Other notable features include a wide-split style, non-slip strap with adjustable buckles, a 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 SCUBAPRO Crystal Vu Plus is a single lens mask, which some people like because it can provide a more precise, unobstructed view underwater. It comes with a purge valve, and this makes it easy to clear and rarely fogs up. Should water enter the mask because the mask didn’t seal properly around your beard or mustache, exhale air through your nose to clear the water. You can breathe out through your nose, and the water is vented out. The purge valve can fit a little tight for some people, but most people love this mask once they try it.
Another feature of this mask is the side viewing windows, which provide excellent peripheral vision in the water. It has an excellent seal that should allow it to fit snug and tight on about 90% of people, even with facial hair.
In the video, Richie Denmark talks about using a razor to help trim a little bit of your facial hair away. I just wanted to point out the Schick Silk Touch-up multipurpose exfoliation tool. It is excellent for fine-tuning your hair.
Richie, Thank you for letting me post your video.
There are a lot of good masks out there besides the ones I mentioned. Atomic makes some really good high-end masks. Like everything you do, you need to make sure you practice. Even if it’s just getting in the pool a couple of times, it is easy to say it is the gear’s fault that you can do something. Lastly, remember if you are diving a rebreather and you are going to put something on your mustache to help it seal, do not use petroleum produces.