Kit review: Tusa Visualator M14 Mask

[tom]

A few months back I decided I wanted a wide-view mask, as I felt the vision I was getting from my current one (basic Cressi job in my avatar pic) was too restricted - major head movements whenever I wanted to see anything.

I tried on loads - Cressi big-eyes and the new version of that, Mares x-vision, and a couple of others. The Tusa Visualator seemed to have the widest field of view, and was very comfortable, so despite some reservations about the enormous size of the thing I bought one recently. They go for about £45.

Here's the marketing blurb:

http://www.tusa.com/Tusa/Catalogue/Masks/m-14.asp

I've now done 20-odd dives in it, so here are some impressions.

It's bloody brilliant. Almost like not wearing a mask at all, the field of vision is enormous. I can see everything I want to - I can comfortably watch my drysuit dump valve bubbling away (before it was a major effort to see it).  I can see my gauges just by glancing down. I can even see the sides of my wing, behind my shoulders. It's great.

It's also very very comfortable, and seals to my face very nicely. It occurred to me last night that I didn't know how easy it was to clear when flooded - because I hadn't ever flooded it, or even had a significant leak. So I tried it in the pool, and it clears very easily, though a tiny dribble of water does tend to get left at the bottom of the lens (not really enough to be annoying though).

Just one peculiarity to report - while it claims to be a low volume mask, there is quite a bit of airspace in it (certainly more than some others I've tried - probably compares well to other wide-vision masks though). This means that on a couple of occasions, I've actually noticed a 'floaty face' feeling on ascent as the air in it expands. Not a problem, and easily sorted, but an odd feeling at first.

I'll probably be swearing about it in a few months when I get bored and want to try something else, but for now I'm pleased with it - expensive, but worth it IMHO.

Tom

[Mary]

<font color='#F52887'>OOOOooooooooooooo I'm glad you posted that I'm in the market for a new mask as my old one seems to have developed a hole and water just kept on flooding in on my last dive.

Any other suggestions to try?

[tom]

It came down to a choice between that and the new version of the Cressi Big-eyes (horizon? matrix? whatever). The Mares mask was good too but I didn't like the way the strap fixed onto the skirt rather than the frame.

One point - not sure how good this mask would be for people with long hair or small faces - getting hair / hood trapped under the skirt might be a problem. I wouldn't buy one without trying it on.

[Dominic]

My old mask was so floaty it made my nose ache after a while, as it rode up my face

Switched to the Mares X-vision, wow what a difference!

[Woz]

<font color='#000080'>My X-Vision is luvly. Went to my local un-friendly LDS and spent an hour trying on wide vision masks with a hood on and a snorkel in my mouth. Some strange looks from other customers, I can tell you. &nbsp;My impressions were as follows:

Cressi big eyes- crap fit for my face
Tusa Visualator- better fit but very very big and had trouble tucking the skirt under the hood
Mares X-Vision- luvly

Decathlon are doing the X-Vision for 39 quid at the moment which is 3 quid cheaper than Go-Dive. The have the Big-Eyes too but they are the only 2 low volume masks in there apart from their selection of 'my little pony' masks and snorkels.

[tom]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Woz @ April 14 2004,14:30)]Tusa Visualator- better fit but very very big and had trouble tucking the skirt under the hood

Yeah, I can see that could be an issue. I tend to wear my mask strap under the hood, so when I pull the hood over the mask it seems to settle OK on top of the mask skirt (though most of my dives with it so far have been hood-less).

[Dominic]

I got my X-vision for £39 at LIDS. Haven't taken it into OW yet - Keep having to cancel dive trips (Should have been dving today, but had to work instead *sob*)

This weekend or next I'm SURE it'll get properly christened.

I like the fact that the clips are on the skirt.. it's just a shame they're piddly little ones instead of the normal thicker ones, as I've replaced the silicon strap with a neoprene one. Was a bit awkward, feeding the velcro through..

[String]

Am i the only one here thats only ever found ONE mask that will actually fit and not leak ? &nbsp;

[Rick Huggins]

<font color='#0000FF'>I used to use a Cressi Horizon and found it ace.
I then saw the Tusa visulator, thought I'll have some of that.

No matter what I do, the mask always fogs and leaks, even though I tested it thouroughly prior to purchase.

Im now back on the Horizon and carrying the visulator in my cargo pocket as backup.

Pissed off though, coz it's the CR Smith of masks

[daz]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Frogman @ April 14 2004,20:47)]I used to use a Cressi Horizon and found it ace.
I then saw the Tusa visulator, thought I'll have some of that.

No matter what I do, the mask always fogs and leaks, even though I tested it thouroughly prior to purchase.

Im now back on the Horizon and carrying the visulator in my cargo pocket as backup.

Pissed off though, coz it's the CR Smith of masks

Hi Rick,

Have you toothpasted it?

Won't cure the leaking but should cure the fogging.

For those that may not know, many masks have a film on the lense to protect them, a small dab of standard white toothpaste smeared around with the finger, quick rinse out and repeat will remove the film.

Daz