Regular price
£89.50 GBP
Sale price
£89.50 GBP
Regular price
Ocean Reef
Ocean Reef Aria QR+ Full Face Snorkel Mask
Ocean Reef Aria QR+ full face snorkel mask
The Aria QR+ is the mask we hand to people who tried snorkelling once, hated it, and assumed the problem was them. Usually it was not. It was a skirt that leaked and a mouthpiece that made their jaw ache after twenty minutes. Breathing normally through your nose and mouth behind one sealed lens removes both problems at once.
Fit is what decides whether a full face mask leaks, which is why everything in our full face snorkel mask range is sized rather than sold one-size-fits-all. Get the size right and the Aria QR+ seals and stays sealed.
On this page
- 180 degree panoramic vision, single lens
- Ocean Reef Dry Top system seals the snorkel when a wave passes over
- Quick-release buckles on both sides
- Dual airflow anti-fog design
- Hypoallergenic silicone skirt
- Integrated GoPro mount on the snorkel tower
- Choice of colours and sizes
Check the size before you order
Size is measured from the bridge of the nose to the base of the chin, not by hat size or general build. Measure properly against the Aria QR+ size guide, because a mask one size too large will leak at the chin no matter how tight you pull the straps.
Why snorkellers choose the Aria QR+
People who could never get on with a snorkel can use it
The biggest reason we sell these is nervous snorkellers. Someone who panics slightly with a mouthpiece in, or who cannot seal a conventional mask because of face shape, will often get straight into the water with a full face mask and stay there. We see it every summer with parents who assumed they simply were not water people.
You see properly, not through a letterbox
A traditional mask gives you a viewing window. The Aria QR+ gives you 180 degrees, which changes how you track fish moving across you rather than in front of you. It also makes the water feel less claustrophobic, which is half the reason nervous snorkellers relax in it.
The quick release earns its place
Standard full face masks come off over your head. The QR+ releases at the buckles instead, so less hair pulling and faster removal if someone gets uncomfortable and wants it off now. On a family snorkel trip that matters more than any spec on this page. There is also no bite block, so nothing to clamp for an hour and no jaw ache at the end of a long swim.
Features that matter in the water
Dry Top system
A float valve sits at the top of the snorkel tower and closes when water washes over it. In practice that is what stops the mask filling when a boat wake catches you side on. It is not a licence to duck under, but for surface snorkelling in chop it does the job it claims.
Dual airflow anti-fogging
Incoming air is routed around the inside of the lens before it reaches your nose and mouth, and exhaled air leaves through separate channels. That separation is what keeps the lens clear. It is also why fit matters, since a poor seal breaks the airflow path and the lens fogs regardless of how much anti-fog gel you use.
GoPro mount built into the tower
The mount is moulded into the snorkel tower rather than clipped on, so it does not work loose. A camera mounted there sits above the waterline at rest, worth remembering when you frame a shot.
This is a snorkelling mask, not a diving mask
Full face masks cannot be equalised, because you cannot pinch your nose. Do not use the Aria QR+ for scuba, freediving, or any dive where you intend to descend more than a metre or so. That applies to every full face snorkel mask on the market, not just this one.
Who the Aria QR+ is for
- Snorkellers who have never got on with a conventional mouthpiece
- Families wanting one mask that swaps between people quickly
- Anyone who struggles to seal a standard mask because of face shape or a moustache
- Holiday snorkellers looking at reefs from the surface for an hour at a time
- People filming with a GoPro who want hands free
Who it may not be for: if you duck-dive, freedive, or want to scuba, this is the wrong mask and no full face model will serve you. You need something you can equalise. Talk to us and we will point you at a low volume mask instead.
Against the standard Aria, the QR+ adds the quick-release buckles and little else. Buying for yourself and happy to take your time getting a mask off? The difference is modest. Buying for a child, a nervous adult, or a family passing it between them? That is what you are paying for.
Getting the fit right
Nearly every complaint about full face masks traces back to sizing. Two minutes here and the mask works.
- Measure from the bridge of your nose to the bottom of your chin, then check that against the size guide. Do not guess from your usual mask size.
- Put the mask on before tightening. It should seal under its own weight with the straps loose.
- Tighten evenly and only until movement stops. Over-tightening distorts the skirt and creates leaks rather than curing them.
- Tie long hair back. A few strands under the skirt at the temple will leak steadily.
- Rinse in fresh water after every use and dry the valve before storing.
Try it before you commit to a size
Come into the shop and try one on. Having the seal checked by someone who fits these every week takes five minutes and saves the return postage.
Specifications
| Product | Ocean Reef Aria QR+ full face snorkel mask |
|---|---|
| Type | Surface snorkelling, full face |
| Field of vision | 180 degrees panoramic |
| Snorkel valve | Ocean Reef Dry Top system |
| Anti-fog | Dual airflow separation |
| Skirt material | Hypoallergenic silicone |
| Strap release | Quick-release buckles, both sides |
| Camera mount | Integrated GoPro mount on snorkel tower |
| Options | Choice of colour and size |
Frequently asked questions
Can you scuba dive with the Aria QR+?
No. You cannot pinch your nose to equalise inside a full face mask, so any descent beyond a metre or so risks a mask squeeze and ear damage. This is a surface snorkelling mask.
Does the Aria QR+ fog up?
Not if it fits. The dual airflow design sweeps air across the lens before you breathe it, which prevents fogging without gel or spit. Fogging in an Aria almost always means the mask is the wrong size and the airflow path is being broken by a poor seal.
Does the Aria QR+ leak if you have a beard?
The skirt seals on the chin and the sides of the face rather than under the nose, so a beard is less of a problem here than on a conventional mask. Heavy facial hair at the jawline can still break the seal. Come and try one if you are unsure.
Is there an Aria QR+ size for children?
There are smaller sizes, and children generally get on with these better than with a conventional mask and snorkel. Measure them properly rather than assuming, and never let a child snorkel in a mask that is loose at the chin.
Can you fit a prescription lens to the Aria QR+?
Not to this mask. If you need corrective lenses in the water, a conventional twin-lens mask with prescription inserts is the way to go. Ask us and we will show you the options.
Not sure on fit? Our instructors snorkel this kit themselves, so ask before you order, or see what else the Ocean Reef range covers.