New User ? Sign Up  |  Sign In  |  Help
Strange Questions
Get the Answers at Strange Questions!
ask
answer
explore
Search for questions :
My Profile

cabbagehead

Open Questions Bookmark and Share

Why do divers spit in their masks?


Why do SCUBA divers spit on their masks?

5085 day(s) ago

    Comment(s) (0)
    Report Abuse
   Find Interesting  
   Email to Friends  
   Bookmark  
   Subscribe to Answer Alert  
No comments yet !!!     Be the first to comment !!!
Answers (1)

NotEinstein
It keeps the mask from fogging up.


When the diver puts on the mask, it traps the surrounding air. During the dive, that air is surrounded by cold water. This cools the air until it can't hold the moisture in solution. This forms water droplets on the inside of the lens. The same effect can be seen on the surface of a cold glass, as shown on the video. Even when snorkeling, it's not uncommon to have a fifteen-degree temperature difference between the water and the air, which is often enough to reach the dew point.

So, why spit on the mask?

The saliva acts as a surfactant. When the moisture leaves the air, the saliva keeps the water from get a firm grip on the lens. These droplets slide off before they can become large enough to obscure the diver's vision. While there are commercial surfactants on the market for diving goggles, spit is free and always available.

Posted 5085 day ago

( 1 )
( 0 )
    Comment(s) (0)
   Report Abuse
No comments yet !!! Be the first to comment on this answer !!!

Edit your answer. Click save when done.
Question Title Why do divers spit in their masks?
Your Answer
Character Count ( Max. - 5000 ) : 40
Email this question link to friends
Please enter e-mail address and name for each friend..
Friend #1 -
Friend #2 -
Friend #3 -
Friend #4 -
Friend #5 -
  Your comment on this question
Max Allowed : 5000 Characters Current Count : 0
  Your comment on this answer
Max Allowed : 5000 Characters Current Count : 0

Copyright © 2024 Terms & Conditions