A breath of fresh air, underwater: the snorkel mask with a built-in fan

Michael Restin

14.7.2022

Translation: Megan Cornish

People with full-face masks are a more frequent sight than fish in some bays, but this new model with «active air circulation» is new to me. After a little research, I’ve worked out which way the wind is blowing.

For years, people who don’t like snorkels have still been snorkelling. Instead of wearing a conventional scuba mask and biting down on a mouthpiece, they simply slip on a full-face version. So they mostly observe the underwater world from bobbing on the surface, like a lonely goldfish gazing out of its bowl. Sports snorkel fans would probably snort a stream of water in disdain at the sight. Like with a snorkel, you can dive deep and blow out any water that gets into the mask. Their equipment makes them feel more free than restricted. My friends from underwater rugby, for example, definitely don’t need anything else.

But many people don’t feel at home in the water. They find it more comfortable to be able to breathe through their mouth and nose when snorkelling, like they do on land. The full-face masks make that possible, which is why they’re so popular. To make things even easier, the Mint Lama E-AirWave helps with a supply of fresh air. As long as the snorkel sticks out of the water, a fan directs fresh air into the nose and mouth area. Exhaled air is then discharged via two separate channels. The air can only flow in one direction at a time – the ducts for fresh and exhaled air are separate.

That’s the theory anyway. Before I get into my little test of the supposed worry-free system, I have to rewind a bit. What actually is there to worry about?

Masks, the media and potential dangers

The first answer to that question is that you should never go into the water completely carefree. There’s always a risk involved, but you can at least minimise it if you know your equipment, the environment and any potential dangers. Breathing through plastic tubes with your body underwater isn’t natural, and accidents happen. When the number of deaths while snorkelling in Hawaii rose sharply in early 2018, the increasingly popular full-face masks came under suspicion. As macabre as it is, it was a hot media topic with the fear factor: do full-face masks result in death? Is CO₂ poisoning the problem?

The breathing trap theory was born. The research results came later. A study conducted at Duke University tested a variety of full-face masks. None were rated as having problematic respiratory gas exchange. However, not all mask types worked as stated. Some models were found to let in water and increase breathing resistance.

The Hawaii Snorkel Safety Study’s final report concludes that pulmonary oedema was the leading cause of deaths and near-fatalities in the archipelago. More precisely, SI-ROPE, which stands for «Snorkel Induced Rapid Onset Pulmonary Edema». The fatal sequence can be summarised as follows: breathing is impaired by the snorkel, and there is excessive negative pressure in the lungs. An oedema forms, meaning that fluid collects in the lungs. This results in a lack of oxygen in the blood (hypoxia), which can be fatal in minutes. The perilous thing is that this can happen quietly. It’s hard to tell whether someone is floating unconscious in the water or just calmly watching fish.

Regardless of mask type, the Snorkel Safety Study rates breathing resistance through the snorkel as the number one risk factor, followed by physical factors. This makes the idea of blowing air into the mask with a fan seem logical. I can’t objectively judge what how useful it really is. I’ll just share my personal experience of a short test swim.

Mask on, fan on

My first impression of the mask is like the section I just wrote: rather top-heavy. A noticeable part of its total weight of 590 grammes sits at the top of the snorkel. It doesn’t bother me, but it’s noticeable immediately. In addition, the power button reveals that something is different here. I press it immediately, of course. The fan starts whirring and I put the mask over my face. In fact, when I breathe in, I can feel a small draft that blows up to the tip of my nose. I effortlessly flood my lungs with fresh air. If I switch it back to Off, everything goes quiet. Luckily I can still breathe without noticeable resistance. And having both looks stupid without even being near any water. So, I sign off with my boss, who is apparently already sitting on the beach anyway, and throw myself into the River Limmat.

My hope that I’ll no longer hear the fan with my head under water is not entirely fulfilled. There’s still a sound like someone is vacuuming in the distance. It doesn’t fit the beach vibe I’m going for, but the field of vision is larger than I’ve experienced with my conventional diving mask. This integral mask has flat glass with very little distortion and no restriction at the edges.

Quiet reigns under the surface

As soon as I dive down with my snorkel, everything is calm. A float shuts off the air supply, the fan stops and if I breathe in anyway, I suck the mask tighter to my face. It’s an unmistakable sign that I should raise my head again soon. Shortly afterwards, the fan starts up again and fresh air flows in. It’s refreshing, as is the fact that nothing fogs up and water doesn’t get in. There’s also an outlet valve on the underside to drain any water that has managed to get in.

Elasticated textile straps make the mask easy to fasten at the back of my head and keep it secure from all sides. While the Snorkel Safety Study doesn’t identify a general structural disadvantage of full-face masks in terms of breathing resistance, it does provide a few points to consider:

• Breathing resistance cannot be assessed visually when using this equipment
• Unlike with a conventional snorkel, you can’t just spit out the mouthpiece in an emergency
• You can’t blow water out of the snorkel if any gets in
• You can’t safely dive with it
• If a valve that’s supposed to let water out or air in fails, you can get into serious trouble
• The mask isn’t that easy to remove in an emergency, even if it has a quick-release system

Of those who survived their snorkelling accident and were interviewed for the study, 38 per cent wore a full-face mask. A full 90 per cent of this group blamed their mask for the problems. The E-AirWave doesn’t have a quick-release system that you can use to open the mask at the push of a button and easily remove it. But even they don’t seem to help based on the experience of the study. If even just a little panic sets in, even simple movements can become (too) complicated. I’ve become aware of this several times over the past few summers. Like when I was caught upside down in a kayak. Or when I attended the SLRG rescue training course.

And now for the accessories

The E-AirWave comes with a charging cable, camera mount, storage net, and earbuds, which I haven’t tried. There’s a potential risk of losing the small parts, but the mask can be folded via a hinge and packed up quite well without the snorkel getting in the way. Details that are less relevant in the water. In terms of ventilation and features, this model has a lot going for it.

However, in my opinion, things need to be optimised up top. The claim is that «the tip of the snorkel is visible from a distance», but even the colour name of my test model – «Night Sky» – speaks volumes. The combination of black and blue isn’t exactly what I would call highly visible in the water. I’d dispense with colour concepts here and go for a bright red tip to be seen better by other water sports enthusiasts. But full-face masks aren’t the only place where this detail is easily forgotten.

Verdict

The first argument in favour of buying the electrically ventilated mask is that it prevents excessive CO₂ levels in breathable air. I understand the idea behind the concept and have outlined it to you here, but you have to form your own opinion. As is the case almost everywhere, there are two philosophies. One is to be as puristic as possible: mask, snorkel, done. Generally speaking, the simpler the snorkel, the lower the resistance, according to the Safety Study website. It advises learning how to use the basic equipment first. The second philosophy is to rely on technical solutions. Those who prefer this approach will find the E-AirWave interesting.

Snorkelling equipment

Mint Lama E-AirWave

7

As for how much value it adds, I don’t know. All I know is that more technology should by no means lull you into a false sense of safety or make you want to use it to compensate for physical ailments. It’s important that you take a critical look at your equipment, your physical condition and the environment. In Hawaii, the risk of having an accident is ten times higher for tourists than for locals. There’s no substitute for routine. If you don’t have one, you should be even more careful, no matter what equipment you’re using.

Now you can take three deep breaths and then flood the comments. Useful? Nonsense? I’m diving in. Stay safe and healthy this summer!

Michael Restin

Senior Editor

Michael.Restin@digitecgalaxus.ch

Simple writer and dad of two who likes to be on the move, wading through everyday family life. Juggling several balls, I'll occasionally drop one. It could be a ball, or a remark. Or both.

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