Some of my favorite trips are water-based. If I can be out on the water in a boat or on a board, or under the surface diving or snorkeling, I’m in one of my happy places. But despite loving being underwater, every time I wear a mask, the rubber strap gets tangled in my hair.
On one dive trip, I noticed that someone had a neoprene mask cover, and I asked her about it. She’d had the same problems with her hair, and told me that the neoprene sleeve that fits over the original mask strap minimizes hair tangling and discomfort.
Now, I travel with my own mask, which has a similar strap cover (pictured). I no longer have hair/mask battles, and using a cover instead of a pre-sized slap strap allows me to adjust my mask when necessary while underwater, and easily use the same mask with a head covering (like a hood) when in cooler water.
Even if you don’t own your own mask and rent one whenever you dive or snorkel, it’s worth bringing a strap cover and using it with your rental mask. But don’t forget it when your water adventure is over. When you’re back on land, rinse your strap (and all your water gear) in fresh water and let it air dry. It’ll be all ready for your next dive.
There are tons of shops that sell mask strap covers. Dive shops in coastal destinations often have them personalized with their shop name, and buying one there may be a great memento of your vacation. Online, check out scubamaskstraps.com for a wide variety that include the opportunity to personalize yours (which can help prevent a mask mix-up), or scuba.com and dipndive.com for some fun fish themes.