Best Scuba Masks for 2026

Yes, I do realize this is the same as Simon’s top pick for a snorkel mask: it’s just a really great dive mask.

What I love about this scuba diving mask: The Cressi Big Eyes is a low-profile twin-lens mask with a rigid frame. The “Evo” part is a reinforced silicone skirt design that makes it adaptable and comfortable to most face shapes. The thin inner seal around the nose pocket also seals pretty well against stubble apparently, should you be on holiday and enjoying your 5 o’clock shadow. The reinforced part of the seal stops the mask from compressing underwater as you descend, so you can avoid looking like a raccoon upon surfacing. The classic Cressi teardrop lens design gives a great field of vision. This is one of the best-selling masks for Cressi, and it’s favored by many scuba diving professionals.

The Cressi Big Eyes come in six color combinations. These masks are also available with HD mirrored lenses with several different optical corrections from -1 to -6, as well as offering comprehensive sizing options. This mask is good for snorkeling and freediving as well as diving (indeed, it’s so good that it’s our top pick for snorkelers too). It comes with its own storage box for travel as well.

Opinion: Dive professionals (in this case my husband, who has a “regal” nose) note that the high bridge and nose pocket design means it’s great for those with generous face topography. Simon uses his Big Eyes Evolution mask for both diving and snorkeling, and loves it.

Cons: Nothing really. It has a long name I suppose? I’m stretching here. They’re great masks. That said, several owners report occasional leaking despite the seal design.

Why we like the F1 as a budget or backup pick: Like the Hollis M1 and Oceanic Shadow, the Cressi F1 is frameless, so it takes up little room in a BCD pocket or travel bag, and it folds flat for travel. Its listing describes a tempered glass lens, a silicone skirt, a soft nose pocket and quick-adjust buckles, at a price that makes it an easy first mask.

Cons: Frameless masks don’t have the durability of solid-frame masks. Several owners report leaking around the nose or fogging more than expected.

What I love about this dive mask: The Spectra has been around for a while (like, a decade), and it’s still super popular. Recently, Scubapro has upgraded this classic mask with mirrored lenses. It’s made an excellent mask even better. The Spectra is made from tempered glass for durability, with the newer mirrored lenses offering glare-free and more true-to-life color underwater. The finish also protects your eyes at the surface (like sunglasses). Added bonus: they look very, very cool.

The painted “ombre” finish on the frame of the Spectra is very sleek, but it can get scratched away with abrasion. The framed design, though, means it holds its shape well during storage and enhances overall durability. Scubapro has thinned out the frame section near the nose pocket and added baffles (ridges) so that it’s easier to equalize, which is a nice functional change.

Overall the Spectra has a practical and stylish design and is deservedly highly-rated in both its mirrored and non-mirrored lens iterations.

Prescription lenses: Get Wet sells the Spectra with ready-made prescription lenses, or made to your own prescription if you have astigmatism or need bifocals. The custom version takes around two to three weeks and can't be returned, so make sure the mask fits you first.

Cons: Scubapro lists the Spectra for average faces, so be cautious if you fall into the “generous face size” or “regal nose” category. For small or narrow faces it also makes a scaled-down version, the Spectra Mini. If you opt for the mirrored lenses, it’s harder for people to see your eyes, which may be positive or negative depending on how patient you are with your buddy. The mirrored finish is on the outside of the mask, and is softer than the glass, so it can easily scratch; the Spectra benefits from a bit of care both in use and during travel.

What I love about this dive mask: The Hollis M1 is a frameless, low-volume mask with a large single lens made of crystal-clear tempered glass. The lack of a frame, along with the double silicone skirt seal, means this mask is very flexible and will mold to your face shape; this, plus the design of the nose pocket, means that those with a generous nose will get a comfortable fit. The Hollis is compact and lightweight and is perfect for travel as it takes up little space.

The design makes this quite a macho mask. Add a pair of the Apeks RK3 vented fins and you can be most of the way to becoming a Navy SEAL ninja warrior. That said, Mads uses a Hollis for diving and is not notably militaristic.

Prescription lenses: The M1 has a single lens, so it can't take pop-in prescription lenses, but Get Wet sells it made to your own prescription, including for astigmatism and bifocals. Custom masks take around two to three weeks and can't be returned.

Cons: Frameless masks don’t have the durability of solid frame masks. Take care to prep the mask for defogging carefully, as fogging is an issue that pops up in some reviews. This mask is also a little pricey, but as above you’ll look like a Navy SEAL, so it’s probably worth it. Several owners also report occasional leaking.

What I love about this dive mask: This is a single-lens mask but has a high bridge, with teardrop shapes on either side, to provide an ultra-wide field of vision. The silicone skirt has a self-named “Gummi Bear Seal”, which sounds as comfortable as it is, and the soft silicone gives an excellent fit for those with facial hair. The high-end Schott Superwhite glass (imported from Germany no less) allows even more light to penetrate the lens than Ultraclear glass, giving impressive optical quality. The frame is halfway between a fixed and frameless mask so it’s less bulky but still well-supported. Overall, Atomic Aquatics has summed it up themselves: “wicked look, heavenly vision”. The hipster’s friend.

Prescription lenses: Single-lens masks like the Venom can't take pop-in prescription lenses, but Get Wet sells it made to your own prescription, including for astigmatism and bifocals. Custom masks take around two to three weeks and can't be returned.

Cons: This mask is a little wider than some masks, so may not give the best fit on those with a smaller or narrower face. It’s a pricey mask, but you’re paying for the high-end, high-quality glass in the lenses, which can ultimately make every dive a little nicer. Several owners report the frame digging into the forehead.

What I love about this dive mask: The Shadow is a frameless mask with a single continuous lens. This mask has also been around for a while, but still ranks very highly, and dive professionals love this mask. The Shadow is a great choice for small faces as it comes in a “mini” size.

The Shadow also has loads of color options. If your dive buddy often uses you as a model, or if “mermaid” is mentioned in your bio, the Shadow has a clear skirt version that helps you look great in photos. Spearfishermen and photographers, on the other hand, often prefer a black skirt to reduce the potential for glare.

A nice bonus is that this mask comes standard with a neoprene strap, which many of us prefer, but it’s easy to change this one out for whatever you like. Overall the Shadow is very comfortable and great value for money.

Prescription lenses: Get Wet sells both the Shadow and the Mini Shadow made to your own prescription, including for astigmatism and bifocals. Custom masks take around two to three weeks and can't be returned.

Cons: The strap has webbing instead of an easy-adjust ribbed strap. It’s not as easy to adjust while on your face underwater, although most people don’t do this often anyway. Several owners say it runs wide rather than narrow, despite being sized for small faces.

What I love about this scuba diving mask: The Octomask is designed to have a GoPro attached to your mask throughout your dive, useful for those that want to film from a first-person perspective but need their hands free for other things: still camera, reef hook, or whatever. The Octomask is a genuinely comfortable and functional mask as well as a solid GoPro mount that doesn’t increase drag too much as you swim.

Top tips: remember to activate your “beeps” to let you know when the camera is recording, as you can’t see the GoPro, and try to move your head slowly so you don’t get seasick watching the video later. Your viewers will thank you. Get a buddy to check the GoPro is angled correctly too.

Cons: You might want to consider a second mask for the dives when you want your GoPro in your hands, or aren’t filming, as the attachment point can get in the way. Several owners report discomfort around the nose area.

What I love about this scuba diving mask: The Calibro mask has a new “fog stop” system inside the mask. As well as the standard double-seal skirt, the Calibro has a third seal around the nose pocket. When you breathe out, the warm moist air only gets into the nose pocket, reducing the fogging on the lenses. Food for thought: suntan lotion on your face also fogs up your mask, so this mask may also be worth considering for warm water scuba divers if you’ll be on the surface before or between dives. This is a low-volume mask with a good field of vision, so freedivers really like the Calibro too. This is a pretty stylish-looking mask that also comes in a mirrored lens version to up the “cool” factor (and also protect your eyes).

Cons: More of a tip really, but do prep your lenses properly to get the best out of the anti-fog system (see how to stop a mask fogging, below). This mask runs a bit small for its size.

What I love about this scuba diving mask: This mask was designed specifically for people who have trouble equalizing, or tend to get ear infections, and for cold water divers who don’t like wet ears in general. The IST Pro has integrated ear pockets that help you equalize and keep your ears dry while diving. Each ear pocket connects to the inside of the mask via a hose which means they equalize at the same internal pressure as the inside of your mask. The soft silicone double skirt provides a comfortable fit for both your face and your ears.

Granted, this is an odd-looking mask, but if you have sensitive ears this could be a game-changer. One of my dive pro friends notes that “despite making the wearer look like a WWI fighter pilot, I do hear good things from those who suffer from ear problems when diving.”

Cons: Some people have had issues getting the ear covers and head strap in the right place for it to work for their face and head shape. Several owners report water still gets into the ear pockets despite a good fit.