Facial Hair = Leaky Mask? Nope!

A common misconception with male divers is that you can’t have a moustache while wearing your mask… and this is simply not the case. You can find dozens of guys with pencil thin moustaches, or beards with no ‘stache at all because they claim it keeps a better seal, but there are alternatives!

First, shave just a quarter inch off the top of your moustache and this should be all the space your mask needs. Generally, if you look at your mask in the mirror the seal of the lip doesn’t extend to far below your nose. This, of course, varies between masks. Next, you can use this technique in conjunction with using a mask seal stick. I wouldn’t recommend vaseline as it gets much more messy and dirty than the seal sticks. Several manufacturers make them, though I’ve found Trident to make the best one. I generally rub it on both the mask and my upper lip to ensure the maximum amount of stick.

Finally, there’s the classic method of… just let some water in! The feeling of water on or in our nostrils isn’t always the most pleasant, but if you’ve got a thick moustache it is ok to let some water in. Just remember not to breathe in through the nose!