XS Scuba Switch Mask
The XS Scuba Switch Mask caught our eye at DEMA. The switch mask allows you to add a colored filter to the front of a dive mask, which helps accentuate certain colors underwater.
Each filter has their own intended use, and the switch mask comes with three filters, a red filter for blue water, a tinted filter for bright light and an amber filter for diving in low light conditions. For west coast divers you can also purchase a magenta filter which makes green water appear blue.
Red filters, like the one available with the switch mask, are popular underwater video accessories for good reason. They bring back much of the color which is lost in the water column. We’re not sure we would want to dive every day with a red filter mask but are curious to test it out in a lush coral garden.
Below are two screenshots from my underwater camera with and without a red filter. Both were taken at the same reef around 40 feet (12m) deep. You can see the noticeable difference a red filter makes when shooting underwater video.
The filters slide in and out easily from the mask, with a simple latch at the top. Once the latch is facing forward there is no chance the filter would fall out.
New at DEMA 2016 XS Scuba introduced a Fluoro filter to their Switch Mask. Now we could really see the potential for fluorescent night diving with this mask. At the moment night divers have to place a fluoro filter over a mask using an elastic head strap. We would consider buying a switch mask with fluoro filter exclusively for night diving.
The XS Scuba switch mask is priced at $99.95 and includes the three filters, Tinted, Red and Amber. Additional filters can be purchased for $19.95. The Fluoro filter will be available in February 2017. [XS Scuba]
