If you spend all your time cleaning your goggles and blowing salt water out of your mouth piece, can you really call it snorkeling? We don’t think so.

Too many people have given up on snorkeling because of experiences like the one above.

We’re going to invite you to give it one more shot, but this time strap on a full face snorkel mask, and you’re almost guaranteed an awesome time.

These full-face masks have been re-engineered to eliminate all the problems found with the old style of mask and goggles, giving you an un-restricted viewing area as well as enabling you to breath just as easy as if you were on land. We dove in head first to find the 20 best full face snorkel masks you need to consider before your next snorkeling trip.

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Full Face Snorkel Mask Reviews

Seaview 180° V2

Editors Choice

After so many rave reviews is it safe to say the Seaview 180 V2 is one of the best full faced snorkel masks on the planet? We think so, and that’s why it’s our favorite. This mask is a great option for several reasons, not the least of which is its anti-fog design. To eliminate that frustrating aspect of snorkeling, this mask is built with a separated breathing chamber that doesn’t release the air anywhere near your eyes. Another annoyance this mask eliminates is the gag-inducing backwash of saltwater down your mouth piece. The Dry Snorkel Technology essentially creates a one-way valve at the top of the snorkel itself to only allow air to release, not water to come back in. Just as the name of the mask itself, you’ll get 180 degrees of full uninterrupted viewing angle so see everything around you. Comes in 5 different stylish colors, each of which are equipped with a GoPro camera adapter to record everything you see.

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Tribord Easybreath

Runner-Up

It will be a weird experience when you put this mask on for the first time, you may not be able to put your finger on what is so different about it, and then it will dawn on you: you’re breathing through your nose. Tribord took the generally accepted annoyance of mouth breathing and came up with a way to make breathing while snorkeling much more natural. Their Easybreath technology allows you to breath underwater just as easily and as effortlessly as you would on land. This technology coupled with the full 180 degree viewing ability of the mask makes for the most pleasant ocean experience. As you glide atop the water you’ll almost forget you’re not a fish. The mask also boasts the same technology as commercial extraction fans diverting the carbon monoxide away from the lens preventing fog from not hindering your view. Tribord (Subea Version) Easybreath Full Face Snorkel Mask now comes with the GoPro mount to record all the beautiful sealife you encounter.

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Vaincre 180°

Best Value

The sleek look of the Vaincre full face snorkel mask will be the first thing you notice when it arrives. The mask features the anti-fogging easybreathe technology where it diverts the air away from the lens, as well as an extremely tight and resilient seal. This mask doesn’t feature the complete rounded lens; it squares off on the sides. This is a preference, but if you’re just transitioning from normal standard snorkel masks this is an excellent choice as your depth perception will be similar. While they say this mask isn’t suitable for free diving, you can take the full mask and snorkel underwater as long as you’re able to hold your breath. Features a GoPro Mount to record all the beautiful fish. Comes in 4 different colors.

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ProvLux Full View

You know what would be really cool? Being able to see as many fish as your heart desires! Luckily for us, ProvLux makes that a reality with its 180-degree panaramic view full face snorkeling mask. The huge viewing space isn’t inhibited at all because of the fog free technology built into the gear.

This mask boasts a longer snorkeling tube with easy breath technology -- the familiar, easy and natural breathing system full-faced snorkel masks are known for, and makes you wonder why this wasn’t invented sooner.

In the rare case you don’t seal the mask properly and water makes its way in, the Provlux mask has an exclusive drainage purge valve at the bottom so you can simply drain the mask above the surface without having to remove the entire thing.

The ProvLux ultra-dry snorkel system features an automatic valve that prevents water from entering even while diving underwater. The adjustable straps and silicon skirt ensure a perfect fitting and air tight mask that can be used by your whole family. Go on a wonderful adventure, without the gagging reflex or mask leakage.

The mask features GoPro screw adaptor for that amazing underwater photography and video capturing with GoPro camera. The mask also comes with a bonus sports bag and survival bracelet with features such as can opener, whistle and flint fire starter. A perfect setup for being stock on that remote island! 😉

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Ocean Reef: Aria

If you’re looking for a completely unique full face snorkeling mask the Aria by Ocean Reef has taken style and brought it to market with new updated technology. This full faced snorkel boasts the largest field of vision of any mask out there covering your entire face, but also separating the breathing chamber letting you breathe naturally through your nose and/or mouth without fogging up the lens. The mask’s snorkel tube is made with the “dry technology” which allows you to dive below the water’s surface and no water makes its way in. The Aria features some of the best color combinations of any other of the masks on our list, so if you’re looking for style coupled with top of the line features this is the snorkel mask for you.

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Tower Full Face Mask

Tower is a company that became known for their high quality paddle boards on the popular ABC show, Shark Tank. With an investment from Mark Cuban the company has exploded into all other water related categories, but their quality remains the same. The mask features the full 180° view through a completely shatterproof lens. The mask features double-air flow engineering so your breath never is exhaled towards the lens of the mask. The light gray sleek look of this mask makes it an excellent choice for your next snorkel adventure.

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Easy Snorkel 180°

Does it get any easier than the Easy Snorkel? We sure don’t think so. The snorkel mask features the full faced viewing area as well as the tubeless design to prevent any water making its way down into your mouth. The lens across the front of the mask is closer to your eyes than other masks, this may seem trivial but it helps your depth perception especially if you’re used to the traditional snorkel mask flat lens. The breathing area juts out beyond the lens, but still features the anti-fog ventilation technology allowing you to snorkel longer without your goggles fogging up. We love the color options that Easy Snorkel has to offer; 7 different choices to make sure your snorkel is unique to you.

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Canwryn

The newest Canwryn full face snorkel mask is an excellent choice for the avid adventurer with a full list of specs specifically designed for you to capture everything your eyes can see. The superior manufactured quality of this mask makes it a great choice for the type of snorkeler who will use this not just for vacation. The universal mount on the top of the mask is molded to hold basically any action camera like GoPro, or any of the other several action cameras. The mask itself is ultra-lightweight making it buyout. This snorkel masks design allows you to breath completely naturally underwater, making the experience much more pleasant. The adjustable straps on this mask are made of high quality silicone and can provide a complete air-tight and comfortable seal throughout your entire snorkeling trip. Comes with a mesh travel bag, and available in 2 adjustable sizes.

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Octobermoon Original

The unrestricted view of a full face snorkel mask can only be enjoyed if water isn’t leaking through. The seal the Octobermoon mask provides is second to none, allowing even the fullest facial haired snorkelers the ability to enjoy the view. Speaking of view, the mask boasts panoramic 180° view in 2 different size categories to ensure that it fits perfectly to your face. The smaller sizes available make this mask a great choice for kids and young adults alike. There is enough adjustability in the mask itself to fit it snugly around any face type. This mask also features dry swim technology so you can take this mask below the water’s surface without fear of water seeping through your breathing tube. Available in Chris Brown’s favorite colors, black and blue.

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Shark Gear: Seafin

If you’re looking for comfort in your full-face snorkel mask the Shark Gear Seafin might be the one you need to go with. The mask boasts a wider angle viewing lens than traditional snorkel masks, and eliminates the need to constantly clean the fog out from the inside with its innovative breathing system. We hope that you won’t need to test its durability but in case you did it’s constructed using durable polypropylene with a shatter proof polycarbonate viewing window. The GoPro action camera makes it an excellent choice for the adventure snorkeler, and a detachable breathing tube so you can clean it out thoroughly between snorkeling trips. This full faced mask comes in 5 different sleek colors and with a lightweight carrying bag to protect the lens as you travel. All parts feature a lifetime warranty through the manufacturer.

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Drenched Outfitters 180°

The sleek and ergonomic look of the Drenched Outfitters full face snorkel mask will make you think you’re James Bond. The mask is completely shatterproof offering a viewing window made of rugged polycarbonate making the view totally clear and completely safe. The mask boasts four adjustable elastic straps (other similar masks only have 2) to make sure the mask seals to every contour of your face. This new breathing ventilation system takes the carbon dioxide you exhale up and away from your mask, instead of around your eyes like other previous models. This mask features a camera mount so you can attach your GoPro and capture every detail of your adventure. But you’re not going to miss much as the mask has no hard turns in the lens giving you a complete unobstructed viewing area. Comes in two colors, black and pink.

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The Super Snorkel

Queue the superhero music, the Super Snorkel is here! Like its namesake the super snorkel is well, super. This snorkel mask features a lot of the same qualities we’ve seen in various other popular full face snorkel masks, such as an unbreakable polycarbonate lens, a fog-proof breathing ventilation system that takes air up and out, as well as the gag preventative snorkel tube. Where this mask differs is in the length of the snorkel tube itself. The longer, flatter, snorkel tube decreases the chance of water activating the dry valve more frequently, so if you’re a novice snorkeler this may be a huge benefit. Another cool feature of this mask is that not only has the mount for the HD sports camera, but the way the mask is oriented it allows you to see the playback in real-time while your swimming. If you like black the Super Snorkel has your color.

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Arctic Current

One of the only masks to feature a completely clear look through the lens as well as the snorkel tube itself. This is the type of mask that will make you fall in love with snorkeling again. With the design, like other full face snorkel masks, this mask ensures that fog and salty water don’t make their way in allowing you to see a full 180-degree view. The only way you can see more through this mask is if your eyes were on the side of your head. The Artic Current package not only comes with the full faced mask itself, but comes with a waterproof cellphone bag so you can snap pics under water, but also a protective travel bag to ensure nothing happens to it when not in use. Comes in 3 colors, Black, Pink, and Light Blue.

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H2O Ninja 180°

The latest edition of the H20 Voyager has come back with many improvements over its predecessor as well as the competition. The new H20 Voyager, constructed of medical grade materials, features a much larger and more rounded clear full face mask. This is an improvement over its previous model where the edges were squared, limiting your field of view. The new mask also features a detachable extended snorkel tube (17% longer) allowing you to dive deeper below the water’s surface than before. This mask wouldn’t be complete without the GoPro compatible mount on the top to make sure you can re-live every snorkel trip. If you’re looking to stand out with your full-face snorkel mask the H20 Voyager can provide you the unique look with 7 different color combinations.

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Smarson Full Face Snorkel

The Smarson Full Faced Snorkel mask is made for the snorkelers of all types, novice to expert. The ergonomic design of the mask covers your entire face snugly. The mask features a rounded glass across the entire outside which can sometimes cause objects to appear further away than they are, but the tradeoff is you experience the best uninterrupted view of the ocean. If you’re an avid GoPro user, this mask comes complete with a secure mount to mount every Hero that is available. The oversized mask will cover your face entirely, blocking cold water from leaking in keeping you under water much longer than traditional snorkel masks. Only available in black and blue.

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WinWax Mask

No, we’re not suggesting you snorkel with the popular wood stain, that's Minwax; the WinWax snorkel mask is probably the better option here. The soft adjustable straps on the back this full-face snorkel mask feel completely custom to your head shape type. The mask itself is made for complete 180 degree views of the ocean and like virtually all others on this list it naturally has an anti-fog design built in. The mask barely tips the scale at just under 15 oz. making it a great option for kids as they won’t be lugging around a bulky mask all day.

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LUOOV 180

The Luoov 180 is the ideal mask for recreational diving and snorkeling alike. The mask itself spreads across your entire face giving you the largest viewing area out of these masks, 181 degrees. The mask’s snorkel tube comes with the anti-gagging technology which prevents salt water from making its way into your lungs. Whether you’re new to snorkeling you grew up using the standard goggles with snorkel tube, this mask is a great choice for snorkeling in all types of ocean conditions, and you can rest assured that you’ll feel comfortable and relaxed as you float on top of the water.

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Ivation Mask

The Ivation provides a comfortable, snug fit for all while still providing the biggest viewing area possible. The mask itself is completely air tight giving you the ability to not only float on the surface comfortably for hours, but you can descend around 5 feet below the surface without worrying about the mask filling up with water. For those of you have snorkeled using the old-style masks, this is a huge change. The ventilation of this mask is made for zero CO2 buildup, which is the common culprit for lens fogging. The Invation mask is made to outlast even your longest snorkel outing; chances are you’ll be ready to go back to the beach before the snorkel needs cleaning or adjusting. Comes in two distinct colors, red and black, and yellow and gold.

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TraxTo Full Face Mask

The Trax To full face snorkel mask is made for you to see the entire view. The rounded lens of the mask is made with zero seams for a completely unobstructed view of the ocean floor and all the life swimming around you. If you’ve had claustrophobic problems when you tried snorkeling before the Trax To alleviates them by providing you two full air flow channels that allow you to breathe normally without fogging up the mask. The snorkel funnel tube itself has improved with this masks 100% seal technology making it virtually impossible to let water in at all. Comes in 4 colors.

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Helloyee Mask

Helloyee may not be an easy mask to pronounce, but it is an easy mask to snorkel with. The mask itself is made soft hypoallergenic silicone making it a great choice for snorkelers with sensitive skin. The breathing chamber of this mask provides even the biggest mouth plenty of room to exhale and not feel claustrophobic while below the surface. Since the mask doesn’t have a camera mount above the forehead, the package does come with a double-sided water proof case so you can take your phone along with you.

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Full Face Snorkel Mask Buying Guide

After looking through several snorkel mask product descriptions, they can start to seem rather redundant. Even writing this guide, the discrepancies were not immediately obvious and the average consumer may just buy one without considering all the different options available.

We looked at the best masks above, but if you’re having trouble comparing a few before you purchase this guide will help you finalize your decision in picking the best mask for the money, and you’ll also be the #1 expert in your family for snorkel mask gear to boot.



Full Face Snorkel Mask vs. Traditional Snorkel Mask

Obviously if you’ve made it this far down the review you’ve noticed that there are some stark differences between the new full face snorkel mask and the older more traditional snorkel goggle mask. When it comes to ocean snorkeling it makes sense in almost every situation to buy the full-face type of mask instead of the simple goggles and snorkel tube.

We’re not recommending this because it’s more money, but because you’ll have a much better overall experience. The chart below shows how the benefits of the full faced style mask compare to the traditional snorkel mask.

Snorkel Mask Considerations

Fog

One of the coolest, if not the coolest, features of these new masks is the natural anti-fog design. People who have yet to try these will notice as they start hitting 30-60 minutes into their snorkel that they’re not having to come up above the surface, take their mask off, spit on the lens, and pray that the clarity improves. Most of the new full face snorkels have a designated breathing chamber separated from the lens, which allows the expelled CO2 to be taken out and up vs in and around your eyes.



Dry Snorkel

Another added benefit of the bigger breathing snorkels is it allows you to breath with your mouth and/or your nose simultaneously. If you’ve snorkeled using old technology you may not be able to even realize how awesome this is until you test your mask out. Almost all snorkels with the separated breathing chamber have this benefit built in. Having these separated engineered breathing chambers should be the first thing you make sure the mask has before you buy.

A dry snorkel refers to the snorkel tube itself being able to prevent water making its way down into your mouth and lungs. This technology isn’t necessarily new to snorkel masks in general, but it’s now very necessary to have this built in because you’re now breathing through your nose and mouth, and getting salt water in both at the same time would be a terrible experience.

The way the dry snorkel works is by having a buoyant round mechanism inside the snorkel valve itself which immediately floats up as soon as it hits the water line. When it floats higher the mechanism seals the breathing valve close preventing any moisture to make its way down inside your mouth. Luckily most full face snorkel masks have this technology built in, but it’s always great to make sure it’s not missing.

Lens Shape

A subtle difference you’ll start to notice as you look across our list of top snorkel masks is that the lens types vary in size and shape between models. Some masks have a completely rounded lens, while others have a rounded lens with squared off sides. Others have the breathing chamber inside the lens area, while others it is separated.

Something snorkelers who are new to the full-face masks is that the fully rounded lenses create what is commonly referred to as a “bubble effect.” A regular snorkel mask is typically flat allowing your eyes to see through them naturally and gauge distance easily. The rounded masks, however, can play a trick on your eyes, making objects feel like they are further away than they are. This is something you’ll more than likely get used to within a couple sessions, but if you’re concerned about it, maybe opt to get a full mask with a flat lens across the front.



Lens Material

When you’re floating sometimes almost a mile or more from the nearest shoreline, the last thing you want to worry about is a cheap lens. Since the lenses are so much bigger on these new masks you want to make sure you’re protected from even the harshest environments. Nobody plans on their snorkel lens to fail until it does. We recommend making sure the mask is made from a shatterproof material such as polycarbonate. This will ensure a safe clear view 100% of the time.

Skirt

A term not a lot of novice snorkelers know is the skirt of the snorkel. This just refers to the flimsily silicone type material that provides the suction to your face. Since the full masks are now covering not only your eye area but also your jawline and mouth area you want to make sure that the mask comes with an adequate skirt.

Mask Color

Color may seem like it’s a purely stylistic attribute when picking the mask, but it’s important to consider your color choices if you’re going to be swimming around ocean predators such as sharks. Sharks are thought to be attracted to brighter colors such as orange, yellow, and red; as well as contrasting hues.



Straps

If you’re going to be mainly swimming in known designated snorkeling areas this is probably not something you need to worry about, however if you’re choosing between a few opt for a style that isn’t bright like a black, blue, or even clear.

The added benefit of opting to go with a full-face snorkel is the adjustability it provides with the full head straps. Most masks have at least 2 adjustable straps, some even have 4 on there to make sure the mask contours to your face even better. Even if you pick a mask with only two adjustable straps you’re going to feel an improvement over the traditional snorkel goggles and mask.

Buying vs. Renting Your Snorkel

If you’re still on the fence about whether buying a full face snorkel mask makes more sense than renting, and not just from a financial stance. Here are why we think it’s better to just buy the mask upfront.

Price: Since there is so much competition in the market for these masks, the prices have dropped significantly. Even you’re most expensive snorkels are less than $100. Now this is largely dependent on the destinations you’ll be visiting; however, we think average mask will pay for itself with 2 snorkel rentals.

Quality: The mask you buy for yourself will be more than likely better quality of the masks found at rental shops as they buy cheap masks in bulk and rent them out for years.

Hygenie: Rental shops claim they clean their masks, but do they really? Who knows most of the time they know you’re on vacation and have nowhere else to rent gear. At least with your own mask you’re the only one that’s going to be using it.

Fit: Getting your mask to the perfect setting can take multiple adjustments throughout the day to finally get it right. Who wants to be fumbling with adjustments while trying to snorkel. Once you figure out the settings of your own mask, they’re set for if you want.

Snorkel Accessories

GoPro Hero5 – I remember when I first started snorkeling I used to take my flip phone inside a Ziploc bag and try and snap a few shots. Obviously, GoPro has improved that scenario 1000x and with the right full faced snorkel, you can easily mount the go pro to the mask and record everything you see. How cool is that?

Telescoping Pole – If you go snorkeling but don’t have any pictures of it, did you actually go? With a water proof telescoping pole, you can snap candid shots of your friends and family all below water’s surface and get them online as soon as possible.

Anti-Fog Spray – While the new full face snorkel masks do eliminate the lens fogging because of your breath, there can still be fogging of the lenses, especially if there are big differences in the waters temperature and your bodies temperature inside the mask. It’s always a good idea to carry some of this with you.

Snorkel Vest – If you want to snorkel for longer and further away from shore without feeling uncomfortable, a snorkel vest would be a great investment. These are inexpensive as well, so if you have several kids on your snorkeling trip, snorkel vests will keep them buoyant all day long.

Snorkel Flippers – If you’re going to be snorkeling, it’s always a good idea to have flippers on. If you have dive style flippers, which are usually longer that should work fine. However, if you’re looking at buying some new ones, the shorter snorkel style flippers are great for quick deliberate moves.

Snorkel Gear Bag - Many companies ship their masks with a travel type bag, but some can be made only for the mask itself. If you want to keep all your gear together (finds, mask, anti-fog, selfie stick), then a mesh bag like this one would work great.