Can You Scuba Dive With A Beard?

Bearded man

Planning to go scuba diving especially when you’re on holiday. One thing you might be worried about could be is having a beard. Are you able to scuba dive with your beard? What precautions might you take?

To answer the question, yes you can. Scuba diving with a beard is perfectly fine. One of the main issues that you might run into is that there is a lack of comfort depending on how your beard is styled. A beard can interfere with the positioning of the mask on your face which can cause severe pain and discomfort.

In today’s post, we will go through in more detail about can you scuba dive with a beard, so let’s get started!

Read more on common questions asked by divers

Can You Scuba Dive With A Beard?

Yes, you can. Scuba diving with a beard is perfectly okay. One of the main concerns that you might run into is that there may be a lack of comfort depending on the style of your beard.

A beard can interfere with the positioning of the mask on your face which can cause some pain and discomfort.

Bearded Diver

Here are a few more reasons you might be experiencing some discomfort.

  • Your scuba diving mask may poorly fit due to your beard. You will need to make sure you use the correct mask size for you and your beard.
  • A well-grown beard might cause damage to the mask or not fit into the mask.
  • Saltwater can frizz up your beard as well as irritate your skin if sunburnt.
  • Even getting out of the water, your beard style might become wild and unkempt looking.

Diving Tips To Go Scuba Diving With A Beard

Yes, there could be a few issues with scuba diving with a beard but while you might be thinking to yourself, how can I solve these issues then

One of the easiest ways to prevent and discomfort with a beard when scuba diving is to simply shave it. If that solution doesn’t take your fancy, then here are some solutions to help you out.

scuba diving
  • Thin out your beard or alternatively shave the area underneath your nose to prevent the bottom part of the mask from getting caught in it.
  • Use a mask seal. This is a silicone-based grease that reduces any leaking around the point where the beard and mask meet.
  • Alternatively, try another sealant that might be more to your tastes. Try to get a sealant that is very viscous and high quality. A good suggestion is beeswax.
  • Make sure that the beard is secured. Use a hairband to ensure that your beard is neat and tidy. This helps to improve comfort and vision.
  • After every drive, make sure that you wash your beard with fresh and warm water. This prevents your beard from getting dry and uncomfortable due to the saltwater in it.
  • After you’ve rinsed your beard, make sure to rehydrate and treat it with all-natural beard oil. A good suggestion is Horace beard oil.
  • Finally, make sure to thoroughly comb through your beard to get any knots out of it. Make sure to use a non-static beard comb.
If you do have a beard, think about how it might cause you discomfort, and then think about the solutions you can put in place.

How Tight Should Scuba Diving Mask Be?

Simply the mask strap should be tight enough to hold against the face without it coming off, but not too tight where it may hurt.

Once you get into the water, the water pressure will ensure the mask creates a seal against your face.

Can You Snorkel With A Beard?

You can snorkel with a beard is perfectly fine. You will have the same issues as with scuba diving such as the snorkel mask may poorly fit due to your beard or sea will fizz up your bead and may make it look wild.

Wrapping Up

Finally, yes you can have a beard and still scuba dive perfectly fine. However, if you don’t take the necessary preparations then the experience can become very uncomfortable. It’s worth taking the necessary precautions in order to keep your beard and skin healthy.

And that’s it for now! I’d love to know if this guide on can you scuba dive with a beard has helped you. Let me know if you have any questions and let me know if there is more to add.

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Scuba Dive With A Beard

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