TESTCENTRE
Low profile , high quality
Aquanaut Freediving Mask
COMPANY : FOURTH ELEMENT PRICE : £ 70 TEL : 01326 567604 WEB : WWW . FOURTHELEMENT . COM
While the days of freediving with my friendly neighbourhood wild dolphin are long behind me , I ’ ve always preferred the low-profile masks used by proponents of the sport .
The compact size and low volume of Fourth Element ’ s Aquanaut mask is a classic example of a twin lens , frameless mask . Equally adept for snorkelling and diving as it is for freediving , it ’ s available in black or white with a corresponding coloured soft silicone skirt .
The mask has several features which make it a great option for diving photographers . Despite its compact dimensions , there ’ s still a more-than-ample amount of horizontal vision . This meant that not only was I able to get up close to my camera housing ’ s viewfinder , but also keep a close eye on my surroundings .
The skirt itself is very flexible and seemed to adjust to a variety of facial profiles among those I asked to try it on . Its matching silicone strap was just as comfortable and very easy to adjust .
The tempered glass lenses are available in three distinct types : Clarity ( for maximum light transmission and true colouration ); Enhance ( filters UV and HEV radiation for brighter perception ) and Contrast ( which filters mid-range wavelengths in the visible spectrum ).
Particularly suited to green water diving , the Contrast lens has a noticeable green tinge . Donning the mask topside in my newly-decorated kitchen , it was interesting to see how that actually worked .
The green walls were immediately transformed to a grey / blue colour and anything white received a slightly pinky hue . Although diving during the winter months offers little in the way of colourful marine life , the reduction in the green spectrum and increase in red was still noticeable , particularly in the shallows , which would be of particular benefit when snorkelling in the summertime .
Another thing to like about this mask was its ability to accommodate a mount for my HUD computer . It also compresses fairly easily into a drysuit or BCD pocket if kept as a spare .
Fourth Element ’ s admirable policy of keeping plastic packaging to a minimum is evident in the Aquanaut ’ s zero-plastic pouch-style mask case , perfect to keep it safe when it ’ s packed away in your dive bag . Neil Hope
SCUBA SAYS
Whether freediving , scuba diving or snorkelling , Fourth Element ’ s comfortable , low-profile Aquanaut mask also offers the option to enhance colour and contrast .
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