Kerry MacKay turns her attention to anti-fogging solutions, how the various options work, and how to make eco-friendly choices
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ENVIRONMENT
De-mystifying de-misting
Kerry MacKay turns her attention to anti-fogging solutions, how the various options work, and how to make eco-friendly choices
One of the main reasons we go diving is to see a whole other world underwater. It can be rather infuriating when your mask fogs up and you can barely see your buddy, not to mention the safety issues! A plethora of products are on offer to keep your mask fog-free, but what does our choice of anti-fog mean for the environment?
Fogging happens when the warm, moist air from our breath and skin inside the mask meets the cold surface of the mask lens, being chilled by the water. The cooling of the warm air against the cold surface causes the moisture vapours to condense as liquid drops on the cold surface, obscuring vision. This is where anti-fogging solutions come in, but how do they help?
The key to anti-fogging agents are surfactants. Surfactants reduce the surface tension between liquids, or between a liquid and a solid. In scuba masks, surfactants spread the moisture evenly over the lens, preventing the formation of droplets that we see as fog.
Alcohol-based surfactants work by acting as a solvent to dissolve other chemicals on the glass and ensure a uniform application across the lens. They evaporate quickly, leaving a thin layer of the surfactant. With less need to rinse your mask when using alcohol-based solutions, other
“ Fogging happens when the warm, moist air from our breath and skin inside the mask meets the cold surface of the mask lens”
You can buy refillable spray bottles from most pharmacies ingredients are less frequently washed into the water.
Some formulas use glycerine instead, working to absorb the extra water in the air. This helps to limit the amount of moisture in the mask that could condense on the lens to fog it up. Vegetable glycerinebased surfactants are safe for use in close contact with skin, can be organic and are not considered a pollutant.
There are a multitude of other surfactants in existence, each of which has differing impacts on the environment. Too many for me to discuss here, but if you are considering buying a mask-antifog solution, I highly recommend checking the ingredients and doing a quick bit of research into the key ingredients to make sure they are environmentally safe. There are reefsafe and organic options out there.
Antifungal and antibacterial agents can be added to maintain hygiene and prevent microbial growth on the mask. This is particularly important in shared or rented dive equipment. Unsurprisingly, these can be toxic in the environment and contribute to antibiotic resistance, so use sparingly and rinse responsibly!
There are plenty of DIY options too. The cheapest and easiest method I was taught is the classic spit in the mask technique. The proteins in our saliva work well as surfactants. However, this method has hygiene risks, so be considerate of where and how you spit and rinse.
A common homemade technique involves using baby shampoo. Diluting a few drops of soap( ideally reef safe) with water creates an effective antifog solution, especially with a little vinegar. We should all have been told about using toothpaste to treat a new mask while we were learning to dive. It contains mild abrasives and surfactants that help remove silicon residue left from the manufacturing process to prevent fogging.
Apparently, you can use kelp too. Kelp contains natural surfactants, which you can utilise by rubbing a piece on the xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
mask lens and rinsing it off. I’ ve yet to try this method, but given the abundance of kelp in much of British diving, this could be a good option. Do let me know how effective you find this if you give it a try. We all want to enjoy crystal clear vision underwater. However, understanding the environmental impact of what we’ re spraying in our masks is essential. Whether using commercial products or DIY alternatives, I hope you can now make a more informed choice. �
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