I recently shared a video on TikTok showing how I was taught to prepare a new dive mask to make sure it doesn’t fog while diving. It got so many reactions and comments because a lot of people never new you had to burn your dive mask. New masks require pre-treatment before you dive with them because they leave the factory with an invisible protective film coating the tempered-glass lenses. Left untreated, a mask is prone to fogging.

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Many divers are adamant that using fire to burn the silicone coating off the lenses is the most effective way to pre-treat your mask. It may seem counter-intuitive to your shiny new mask but when done correctly, it can be very effective.

You can only use this method on masks made of tempered glass and which do not have bifocal lenses.

Here are the steps to prepare your mask like I did in the video:

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Find a sheltered area at the dive site or on the boat if you’re outside. Don’t position yourself on a windy dive deck where the flame will dance in the wind. You must be precise to make sure you don’t damage the mask’s skirt and frame.

Try to use a lighter that has a mechanism at sufficient distance from the flame. Unlike using it for a second to light a cigarette, you’ll need to keep the flame ignited for at least several seconds and you don’t want to burn your fingers or the mask’s skirt.
An ideal tool is a wand-style lighter for candles or barbecue grills that’s got a longer stem and keeps your fingers far away from the flame. If you’ve got one at home, burn your new mask before your trip.
Hold the lighter’s flame close to the inside of the lens, but not directly in contact with it. Begin at approximately 1.5 to 2 inches (35-50 mm) away from the surface.
Gently move the flame around the center of the lens in a continuous motion. The intense heat from the flame will make the mask fog and blacken slightly, but you will be able to see the silicone burn away and leave a clear area. When moving the flame closer to the frame be extremely careful not to get too close to the edge or you may burn or deform the skirt.
When you’re done, remember that the lenses will be hot. Put the mask down on a safe surface where it will remain untouched for 2-3 minutes. Wipe any soot away using a tissue or cloth. Make sure to wipe the soot away from the skirt without smearing it, especially if you have a clear or pale skirt. Once the mask is completely cool, rinse it with water to remove any remaining residue.

After using the lighter, I used some toothpaste with no microbeads.

Gently squeeze a small, pea-sized blob of toothpaste into the center of each lens on the inside.

Firmly rub the toothpaste around the inside of the lenses with the tip of your finger until you’ve worked the paste into all parts of the lens. In contrast to the burning method, there is no danger in going right to the edge of the lenses where they meet the skirt.
When done, put a small amount of water into the mask to cover the lenses.
Thoroughly rinse your mask and repeat two or three more times. The greater the repetition, the less chance you’ll have a foggy mask or condensation on your initial dives.