In 2024 I started looking into snorkel full face masks. Until then I had been snorkeling for 30 years with diving goggles and a separate snorkel. In itself fine to do, otherwise I would not have kept it up for 30 years. But I saw more and more people snorkeling with a full face mask. And because I had gotten used to naming my observations out loud, I wanted to try out such a full face mask.
I am called a gadget freak by family and friends. I do buy a lot of stuff, but I never make a hasty decision. When I buy something, I want it to be the best choice for me and that I can use it for a long time. So I started researching.
I discovered that there were quite a few different brands. I had made a list of the wishes I had for this mask. Also with the future in mind.
I asked friends and acquaintances who had a full face mask. A number of them were already out of the question because there was no easy way to attach an action camera. But I also noticed that people were complaining about condensation. So a fogged-up window, to put it popularly.
That quickly put me in the more expensive segment. In the end it turned out that the Ocean Reef brand, type Aria+ met all my requirements. They also came out well in the reviews. Not surprising in itself, because this brand has been making full-face masks for divers and firefighters for more than 30 years. And therefore also for snorkelers for several years.

At the moment that I had almost placed the order for such a mask, I remembered that I knew someone at Ocean Reef. To make a long story short. I took the plunge and was sponsored by Ocean Reef. And to my great joy they also added their snorkie talkie. I promised them that I would give honest feedback. If I didn’t like something, I would share that with the world too. Their reaction was funny: “Please, because that gives us the opportunity to improve”.

Below is a video with my experiences. Below that I have written down again why I will choose a full-face mask for snorkeling from 2025 onwards. But also why the Ocean Reef brand is the best choice for me.

The Ocean Reef Aria+ was the only one that could meet all my requirements. That made it the best for me. It was in the more expensive segment, but I still found the price-quality ratio very acceptable.

The discharge of my exhalation gas (carbon dioxide) was very good. The mask did not fog up quickly. I could easily attach my action camera to it. I used a GoPro 8 or 12 in an underwater housing. The action camera does not make the mask too heavy. An affordable communication system can be connected to it. Sometimes some water drips into your mask. Because there is hair in between or a hood. With the full-face mask I lift my head out of the water and then the water automatically runs out of the mask. I can do this without using my hands.

What I liked about Ocean Reef, besides the aforementioned specifications, was the supplied bag. You can use this as a carrying bag for the full-face mask. But also as a waterproof bag and as a buoy. Multifunctional. The straps are easy to detach with a clip system. And you can inflate the bag/bag, which makes it float even more. The holder on which you can attach an action cam is supplied as standard with the mask. This makes it easy to record what you see, but also what you are drawing. So afterwards as a kind of timeline of how your drawing has developed. That also worked fine. This camera attachment can be quickly disconnected from the mask, so you can also use it as a kind of short selfie stick. Or you can focus more on the underwater life from a different angle.
And while I’m at it: the communication system worked super easy and well.
Finally, I liked that you could detach the snorkel pipe from the mask. That made it a bit more compact for transport. The latter is also possible with a number of other brands, so it is not specific to Ocean Reef.

What I had to get used to was that the mask sucked a kind of vacuum when you went under water with the snorkel tube. That is of course a good protection, but for me completely new. The first time I was shocked by it. After that I did that a few times consciously, so that I could get used to the feeling. But when floating quietly and drawing, the tube really did not go under water. And otherwise I carefully blew some air into the mask. Solved!
With the communication system you can not dive deeper than about 3 meters.