When you’re scuba diving or snorkeling, there’s nothing more annoying than a mask that keeps fogging up.
It significantly reduces your field of vision and prevents you from properly enjoying all the awesome marine life around you.
While some divers argue that shampoo or simple spit will do the job, these methods rarely keep your mask perfectly clear for the whole dive.
With a reef safe mask anti-fog treatment, you’ll never have to worry about your mask fogging up again.
As a PADI Divemaster based out of South Florida, I’ve tested every mask defog solution known to divers.
After thoroughly testing a boatload of different products, these are, I’ve assembled a list of the three best reef safe mask anti-fog treatments you can buy.
This list was assembled based on the following metrics:
- Defog efficacy
- Pricing
- Consistency (paste, spray, gel)
- Reef friendliness
- Presence of natural and human safe chemicals
- & More
Table of Contents
Best Mask Defog
Stream2Sea Reef Friendly Mask Defog
- Best deal per ounce
- 100% reef safe
- All-natural
- Small & lightweight
- Biodegradable
- We can't find any
Stream2Sea prides itself on being the #1 reef safe mask defog and they have the data and tests to back it up. It also happens to be an incredible mask defog as well.
The formula is based on their shampoo, which is an all-natural nonchemical formula using titanium dioxide.
As you can likely tell from the bottle, this is a gel, not a spray or anything like that.
In order to the gel, put a small amount on the lens, and use a finger to rub the formula completely over the lens.
Then rinse with a small amount of water and remove any streaks. Dump out excess liquid out when it’s time to dive. It’s ok to leave some bubbles left on the mask.
JAWS Quick Spit, Mask Anti-Fog Spray
- Cheap and cost-effective
- Long-lasting effects so no need to reapply often
- All-natural & non-toxic formula
- Small & lightweight makes it ideal for travel
- Not as effective when sprayed last minute
This easy-to-use spray from Just Add Water is one of the most popular antifog mask solutions. It can be used quickly and conveniently to pre-treat your scuba mask before a dive. The formula is the same as Just Add Water’s reliable Spit gel but in a much more convenient spray form which dispenses the product evenly on the inside of the mask.
It also versatile, working well for swim goggles, safety goggles, ski goggles, and any other sports eyewear that’s susceptible to fogging, whether they’re made from glass or plastic.
The anti-fogging properties last for a long time underwater, so there is no need to re-apply often. Some divers claim that just 1 coating lasted them an entire week!
And with each bottle offering up to 200 sprays, it’s great value for money. Plus the formula is completely natural so you don’t have to worry about any chemicals getting into your eyes or the ocean.
You can apply this antifog on a wet or dry mask and it’ll still work perfectly. So you don’t have to properly dry the glass before you treat it.
Although this anti-fog lasts a long time, it doesn’t cling to the lens very well. This means you have to be careful not to touch the lens after you’ve applied it otherwise you’ll have to reapply.
It’s also more effective when applied at least 30 minutes before any activity so you need to remember to apply ahead of time.
GEAR AID Sea Drops
- Super-strong formula
- Cost-effective
- Doubles up as a lens cleaner
- Non-toxic, alcohol-free & biodegradable
- Can take a bit of time to dry
- Not suitable for swimming googles or other eyewear
This inexpensive anti-fog doesn’t just prevent your scuba mask from fogging up. It also helps keep them clean so you’ll always have crystal clear vision underwater.
The potency of the Sea Drops formula means you only need to use 1 to 2 drops per application and with each bottle containing 530 drops, this mask anti-fog will last you a very long time.
Plus it works perfectly even in the coldest of water conditions.
Despite its strength, the Sea Drops anti-fog is one of the gentlest formulas. It’s 100% alcohol-free, non-toxic and biodegradable so it won’t cause any irritation or harm to you, your mask, or the environment.
What To Look For When Buying A Mask Anti-Fog Solution
A scuba mask anti-fog treatment is truly a worthy investment.
Some divers might argue that you can just substitute it with your own spit or baby shampoo, but the former is a little gross and the latter doesn’t always work.
There are also anti-fog solutions that can double as a cleaner for your scuba mask, so you are cleaning and defogging at the same time.
But to make sure that you’re buying the best mask anti-fog here are our top tips to keep in mind when choosing:
- Check the consistency.
The consistency of the mask anti-fog is actually quite important when it comes to gauging how helpful and effective it can be.
If it is too thin, it might not cling to the mask that well so won’t last very long. But if it’s too thick it can be a hassle to apply.
Usually, the ones with a thicker and gel-like consistency work longer and more effectively because they hold to the surface of the scuba mask better.
However, they will require you to properly smear and rub the formula across the lens.
If you prefer something that’s super quick and easy to apply, opt for a thinner formula in a spray bottle.
- Make sure it does not contain alcohol or any other ingredients that can harm the eyes.
Since you will be placing it so close to your eyes, make sure it doesn’t contain ingredients that can damage or irritate your eyes.
Alcohol-based formulas can emit fumes that sting the eyes. Always go for those scuba mask anti-fog that are safe to use.
- It should also be safe for the environment.
As you know, the marine environment is very sensitive to chemicals and unfortunately, some products contain toxic ingredients that are harmful, or even deadly, to marine life.
The product you are putting on your scuba mask could leak chemicals into the ocean, which can have devastating effects on our coral reefs.
Make sure you look for an anti-fog that is reef safe and doesn’t contain any harmful chemicals so we can help preserve the marine environment.
- It should also be able to keep your mask clean.
Many of the best mask anti-fog treatments have a 2-in-1 formulation. So they can be used both as a defogger and a cleanser. If you want to save more money and time, a 2-in-1 formula is a perfect choice.
- Find out if you can use it for other types of eyewear.
Not all of the scuba mask anti-fog solutions can be used for swimming goggles. If you want a more versatile product, make sure you choose one that’s suitable for use on all eyewear.
- Look for the best deals
Consider a package deal where you can buy 2 or more bottles for a discounted rate. If you plan on doing a lot of scuba diving or want to use the anti-fog treatment for other activities, this will help you save money in the long run. You could also gift your dive buddy a bottle, we’re sure they’d love it!
What’s Next?
Once you start using a mask anti-fog treatment, you’ll be surprised at how you ever went diving without one.
The best anti-fog solutions ensure that you’ll never miss out on any of the underwater magic again!
Do you use an anti-fog solution for your snorkel or scuba mask?
Let us know what you use or if you’ve tried any of these options.
